AAIB investigation to Britten-Norman BN-2B-21 Islander, VP-AEJ

Bearing corrosion leading to aileron drive rod failure, Saint Kitts, Caribbean, 4 July 2018.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 11 April 2019

• Category: Commercial - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Correspondence investigation
• Date of occurrence: 4 July 2018
• Aircraft type: Britten-Norman BN-2B-21 Islander
• Location: 4 July 2018 On approach to Robert L Bradshaw Airport, Saint Kitts
• Registration: VP-AEJ

Summary:

During a short flight between the islands of Saint Eustatius and Saint Kitts, Caribbean, the pilot noticed that the ailerons felt “sluggish” but the aircraft landed successfully at Saint Kitts. It was found that a drive rod for the right aileron had broken and a spherical bearing, fitted to one end of the rod, had corroded heavily and was seized. Several safety actions have been taken to reduce the maintenance interval for control rods due to an increased risk of corrosion from the environmental factors where the aircraft operated. This investigation was delegated by the Dutch Safety Board to the AAIB in accordance with paragraph 5.1 of ICAO Annex 13.

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Britten-Norman BN-2B-21 Islander, VP-AEJ 04-19

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Published 11 April 2019