A B777 flight crew reported; during fueling; the aircraft's engine nacelle settled onto a maintenance ladder. The aircraft was jacked up and ladder removed however undiagnosed damage was overlooked involving a crushed engine anti-ice line that caused the failure of the engine anti-ice system during descent to landing at destination airport after a long ETOPS flight.
Synopsis
A B777 flight crew reported; during fueling; the aircraft's engine nacelle settled onto a maintenance ladder. The aircraft was jacked up and ladder removed however undiagnosed damage was overlooked involving a crushed engine anti-ice line that caused the failure of the engine anti-ice system during descent to landing at destination airport after a long ETOPS flight.
Narrative
I did the walk around of the jet and saw the left engine cowling open; a ladder under the engine and a mechanic working. I asked him for an update and he said they were changing the oil filter for the backup generator. He then tried to move the short ladder and realized it was wedged under the engine; and could not move it. The airplane was being fueled and the extra weight settled the engine on the ladder. The mechanic was upset and went for more help. I told the LCA (Line Check Airman); Student Captain and the other IRO about it and suggested they go look at the engine which they did. The other F/O also took a picture of the engine. We were told we would be delayed 90 minutes. So I went back down 30 minutes later for an update and saw 4 Mechanics total; one wearing a QC vest; working on changing the oil filter. They simply told me they would be done soon and that a bent line from the ladder was just an air line; and everything else was fine. There was no entry on the maintenance release pertaining to this issue; so we figured all was well; and departed. Shortly before we began our descent; we received an engine anti-ice L EICAS message. And there was ice forecast in the descent; so that had everyone's attention. Fortunately; we did not encounter any icing. We all discussed the possibility that it was not a coincidence for us to get that message after the mechanics had worked on that engine; so we decided to report it to Maintenance as soon as we got on the ground. The Mechanic was mildly alarmed that our story and the engine anti-ice message were related. We learned the next day when we came back to the airport that there in fact was damage to that engine and the flight was canceled for that day to return. How unfortunate that the Mechanics in ZZZ did not figure that out before we departed.
Second reporter narrative
Just prior to descent Left Engine A/I caution displayed with the switch in auto. No icing conditions were encountered at the time. Non-normal was conducted but did not resolve the EICAS message. While conducting maintenance prior to departing ZZZ; the aircraft settled onto a maintenance ladder under the left engine while being fueled; ladder crushed a 1/2 inch line described to the crew as a P3 bleed air line. Aircraft was released safe for flight after a delay of less than 2 hours.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.