AD NUMBER: 2011-10-16

MANUFACTURER: Airworthiness Directives; PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Model P-180 Airplanes
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2011-10-16

SUMMARY: This emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A (Piaggio) Model PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

Prompted by reports of water accumulated in the lower part of the fuselage on a number of Piaggio Model P.180 airplanes, which resulted in jamming of the flight controls, on 17 December 2010, the FAA, the authority of the State of Registry of the affected airplanes, issued Emergency AD 2011-01-51 to require an immediate functional test of the fuselage drain holes and a report of the results to the FAA. That AD was later superseded, on 20 December 2010, by FAA Emergency AD 2011-01-53.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could, when the airplane reaches and holds an altitude where the temperature is below the freezing point, cause the flight controls to freeze and jam, possibly resulting in loss of control of the airplane.

Since these AD actions were taken, Piaggio Aero Industries, the type design approval holder and manufacturer of these airplanes, have published Alert Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0324, which describes the same inspection, testing and correction instructions as contained in the FAA Emergency AD. EASA AD 2010-0269-E required the inspection and functional testing of the fuselage drain holes, corrective actions depending on findings, and reporting of the findings to Piaggio Aero Industries.

Following issuance of EASA AD, another event of in-flight blockage of flight controls was reported by an operator. The airplane was already compliant with EASA AD 2010-0269-E, and during accomplishment of the AD required inspection no discrepancies had been noted, nor water or ice accumulation were reported. As a consequence, additional drain holes were not drilled.

This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

FMI: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/629CAD22AB52B4518625788F004B645A?OpenDocument