Piaggio P180 N140SL

Summary

On 13 December 2010 at about 13:30 local time, a Piaggio P180 registered N140SL, operated by Avantair, Inc., was involved in an incident near Columbus, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 2010 at 13:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Port Columbus IAP (CMH)

Coordinates

39.9981, -82.8919

Aircraft

Piaggio P180

Registration

N140SL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Avantair, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91 Subpart K: Fractional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

White Plains → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11IA108

Nobody was injured.

The failure of water to properly drain through the fuselage drain holes, thus becoming trapped and freezing around the flight control cables, which resulted in the loss of control authority to the airplane's ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the airplane's descent, the yaw damper disengaged while the autopilot remained on. When the flightcrew checked the flight controls for freedom of control, the ailerons, elevator, and rudder were found to be frozen in place. The flightcrew exerted enough pressure until the controls broke free with a “snap.” The flight controls remained stiff for the remainder of the flight. The temperature was -9 degrees C at the destination. Following a normal approach and landing, the flight controls and nosewheel steering became inoperative. The flightcrew used differential power and braking to taxi to the ramp. A postflight examination by maintenance personnel revealed ice in the area of frame 36 and around the primary flight control cables and pulleys in that area. An examination of the fuselage drain holes showed no obstructions and the airplane was returned to service. An emergency airworthiness directive was subsequently issued that advised of three incidents and that required inspection of the fuselage belly and testing of the fuselage drain holes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.