What happened
On September 19, 2016, during hangar maintenance activities at the Warsaw Okęcie technical base (EPWA), technicians working on a Piaggio P.180 Avanti I operated by Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe discovered structural degradation. While performing the disassembly of the vertical stabilizer in accordance with specific maintenance instructions (SB 80-0444 Rev.1 PART A), the crew identified extensive corrosion on the bearing that forms the lower attachment point of the rudder to the airframe. Additionally, damage was found on the outer ring of the middle bearing of the rudder attachment link.
No further damage was detected on the rudder following the disassembly process. The corroded bearing was marked for replacement with a new part as specified in the manufacturer's documentation.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the condition of the flight control components following the disassembly. The investigation established that the aircraft had been in service for 12 years. Following the discovery, the operator consulted with the manufacturer to determine the appropriate procedure for replacing the affected bearings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was operational wear and tear of the components.
- The degradation was facilitated by long-term operation in varying atmospheric conditions.