Service difficulty report · Elevator · Piagio P180

Difficulty date
February 27, 2012
Submitted
February 27, 2012
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N153SL
Make and model
Piagio P180
Aircraft serial
1054
Aircraft time
8,770 hours, 6,646 cycles
Part
Elevator
Condition
Misinstalled
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
W
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

ACFT WAS IN FACILITY FOR PAINT. FLIGHT CONTROLS REMOVED: PAINTED, BALANCED AND REINSTALLED. DUE TO THE ELEVATORS BEING MISLABELED, THE ELEVATORS WERE INSTALLED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE (LT ELEV ON THE RT SIDE AND THE RT ELEV ON THE LT SIDE). THERE IS NO WARNING IN AMM OF THIS BEING POSSIBLE. ALL OPS AND FUNCTION CHECKS WERE PERFORMED WITH NO APPARENT DEFECTS. FLIGHT TEST DID NOT IMMEDIATELY EXPOSE THE PROBLEM. TAT: 8782.0 & TAC: 6657, 11.8 HRS AND 9 CYCLES LATER. FULL NOSE DOWN TRIM WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN 135 KTS ON APPROACH. CLEARLY, IT SHOULD BE NOTED; THE INSTALLATION OF THE ELEVATORS ON THE OPPOSITE AND INCORRECT SIDE IS BY NO MEANS THE FAULT OF THE MFG. BUT, BE AWARE, IF THERE IS ANY LACK OF TRAINING OR MX CONTINUITY; THE ELEVATORS CAN BE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AND STILL PASS RIGGING AND RANGE OF MOVEMENT INSPECTION.