EASA AD No.: 2011-0074-E 

EASA Form 111 Page 1/2 

EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2011-0074-E 

Date: 22 April 2011 

Note: This Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with 

Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of 

the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that 

Regulation. 

This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an 

aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD unless otherwise specified by the Agency [EC 

2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

Piaggio Aero Industries SpA 

Type/Model designation(s) : 

P.180 aeroplanes 

TCDS Number : EASA.A.059 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : This AD supersedes EASA AD 2010-0269-E dated 22 December 2010 

ATA 53 Fuselage - Fuselage Drain Holes - Inspection / Rework / Functional 

Test 

Manufacturer(s): Piaggio Aero Industries SpA 

Applicability: P.180 Avanti and Avanti II aeroplanes, manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 

1002 and from 1004 through 1218. 

Reason: Prompted by reports of water accumulated in the lower part of the fuselage on a 

number of Piaggio Model P.180 aeroplanes, which resulted in jamming of the 

flight controls, on 17 December 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA), the authority of the State of Registry of the affected aeroplanes, 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superseded, on 20 December 2010, by FAA Emergency AD 2011-01-53.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 aeroplane 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 

aeroplane. 

Since these AD actions were taken, Piaggio Aero Industries, the type design 

approval holder and manufacturer of these aeroplanes, 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 aeroplane 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. 
EASA AD No.: 2011-0074-E 

EASA Form 111 Page 2/2 

For the reasons described above, this AD, which supersedes EASA AD 

2010-0269-E, requires, in order to improve efficiency of the drainage system, to 

cut the rubber flap of the 2 aft flapper valves, to inspect the flapper valves for 

proper functioning and the subsequent accomplishment of a functional test of 

the fuselage drain holes. 

Furthermore, for those MSN not compliant with Piaggio Aero Industries Service 

Bulletin (SB) 80-0291 and where no additional drain holes had been drilled in 

accordance with the accomplishment instructions of Piaggio Aero Industries 

Alert Service Bulletin ASB-80-0324, step 5, this AD requires drilling additional 

drain holes. 

It is finally required to report the inspection results to Piaggio Aero industries. 

Effective Date: 26 April 2011 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) For all aeroplanes: 

 Within 10 Flight Hours (FH) or 10 days, whichever occurs first, after the 

effective date of this AD, cut off the rubber flap of the two flapper valves 

near frame (FR) 36, accomplish the inspection of the flapper valves and the 

functional testing of the valves and the fuselage drain holes and, depending 

on findings, do the applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the 

instructions of Part A of Piaggio Aero Industries SB 80-0330. 

(2) For MSN 1002 and from 1004 through 1213, where SB 80-0291 has not 

been embodied and where no additional drain holes have been drilled in 

accordance with the accomplishment instructions of ASB-80-0324, step 5: 

 Within 165 FH or 90 days, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of 

this AD, apply Piaggio Aero Industries SB 80-0291 or, as an alternative, add 

drain holes on keel beam webs connecting the lateral bays to the centre 

ones, in accordance with the instructions of Part B of Piaggio Aero 

Industries SB 80-0330. 

(3) Within 10 days after accomplishment of the requirements of paragraphs (1) 

and (2) of this AD, report the results (including no findings) to Piaggio Aero 

Industries, address details in the Remarks section of this AD. 

Ref. Publications: Piaggio Aero Industries SB 80-0330 Rev. 0 dated 21 April 2011. 

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD. 

Remarks : 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. The safety assessment has requested not to implement the full 

consultation process and an immediate publication and notification. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness 

Directives, Safety Management & Research Section, Certification 

Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu. 

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact: 

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A - Airworthiness Office 

Via Luigi Cibrario, 4 – 16154 Genova – Italy 

Telephone: +39010 6481353 ; Fax: +39 010 6481881 

E-mail: airworthiness@piaggioaero.it.