West Star Aviation recently completed a major FOD structural repair on an Embraer Legacy 650E that was substantially damaged when a military helicopter landed near it in Peru. Upon landing, the military helicopter had kicked up metal objects into the Legacy’s fuselage.

“Significant structural damage occurred to the fuselage skin, frames, and ribs,” said Bob O’Leary, West Star's Embraer business development manager. “We coordinated closely with Embraer on the engineering required for the repair, along with the corresponding parts recommended.”

After the initial evaluation, the aircraft was ferried to West Star’s MRO facility in East Alton, Illinois, for repairs and full exterior paint. The extensive work took about eight months to complete. The East Alton facility is an authorized Embraer base maintenance service and warranty provider.

The aircraft captain, S. Almeida, cited the complex process and the need to find a maintenance shop that was agile and available. The captain noted that the crew also was in a position where it had to decide quickly where to deliver the aircraft for repair. “After completing all the service, we left with the certainty of having followed the best choice.”