Sāmoa Airways aircraft dismantled weeks after $12m refurbishment

A Sāmoa Airways aircraft that returned from a ST$12 million (NZ$7.49 million) refurbishment only weeks ago is now being taken apart in American Sāmoa.

This is after engineers ruled out repairing it and flying it home.

The Twin Otter 5W-FAY veered off the runway while landing at Fitiuta Airport in Manu’a, American Sāmoa, on 29 July amid strong crosswinds. One of the three passengers on board suffered a leg injury.

The aircraft had returned to Sāmoa about two weeks earlier after extensive refurbishment by Unity Aviation Canada.

According to the Sāmoa Observer, the work cost about ST$12m after additional defects were found during inspections.

Engineers have since assessed the damage and decided that a temporary repair to allow the aircraft to fly back to Sāmoa was not the best option.

Recovery works began last week in Manu'a, American Sāmoa. Photo/Port Administration American Sāmoa.

In a statement on Wednesday, the airline says “dismantling the aircraft at its present location is the most appropriate course of action”.

The recovery has involved Sāmoa Airways, Canadian engineers and local contractor Silva Group, according to the Port Administration of American Sāmoa (PAAS).

A 12-ton mobile crane was used to lift and reposition the aircraft before it was towed to the airport’s concrete apron. Temporary runway closures were put in place during the operation.

A first crane lift last week Friday (local time) brought the aircraft on to levelled ground at Fitiuta Airport. Photo/Ports Administration American Sāmoa.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Barney Sene, PAAS Director of Port Administration, said the recovery shows what is required when local and international teams work together.

"This successful operation is a testament to international and local inter-agency collaboration," Sene said.

PAAS says the aircraft was moved without further damage to the airfield infrastructure, and normal flight operations have resumed at Fitiuta Airport after a temporary flight advisory was lifted.

Canadian engineers are now dismantling the aircraft while documenting damage to its structure and systems.

PAAS says the aircraft’s components will be packed into two 40-foot shipping containers before being taken to the seaport and shipped back to Sāmoa.

Sāmoa Airways says the aircraft has also been secured against strong winds while the work continues.

Sāmoa Airways have begun dismantling the Twin Otter, with the airline's engineers working alongside engineers from Unity Aviation Canada. Photo/Sāmoa Airways

The airline previously said recovering the aircraft was a major logistical challenge because it has no maintenance base, offices or recovery equipment in Manuʻa.

The airline could not determine the full extent of the damage until engineers reached Taʻū.

Unity Aviation Canada, which carried out the recent refurbishment is working alongside Sāmoa Airways’ technical team on the dismantling and assessment.

The next decision will be whether 5W-FAY can eventually be repaired in Sāmoa or needs to be sent back to Canada for further work.

While flights have resumed at Fitiuta Airport, Sāmoa Airways has yet to confirm what the aircraft’s removal from service means for its Manuʻa route or its overall fleet capacity.

Watch (Sāmoan) a Radio Sāmoa discussion of the incident from July below.

PMN News has asked the airline whether flights to Manu’a are continuing as scheduled, whether another aircraft is covering the route, and what impact the loss of 5W-FAY will have on its services.

The aircraft's components are expected to be returned to Sāmoa by sea once dismantling and damage assessment are complete.