What happened
On 19 January 1998, a Piper PA-34 Seneca, registration N32625, was involved in an incident at Guernsey Airport in the Channel Islands. Prior to the event, the aircraft had been stationed at Alderney Airport, where it was parked outdoors in an environment characterized by high salt content.
The investigation
Investigators examined the maintenance history and communications regarding the aircraft's condition. The inquiry established that the owner had been previously alerted to the risks of corrosion due to the aircraft's exposure to the salt-laden atmosphere. Documentation showed that both the owner and the responsible maintenance organization had been in communication regarding the necessity of implementing a more frequent maintenance schedule to address these specific environmental risks. This increased frequency would have been required beyond the standard intervals established during the previous annual maintenance check, which had been completed in August 1997. However, the incident occurred before a new, more intensive maintenance agreement had been finalized and implemented.