Based on the linked source; automatically prepared and checked against the original report.
The Initial Damage
The traveler says American Airlines handlers lifted a heavy power wheelchair from a belt loader instead of using a lift, then dropped it onto pavement. The claim documented broken plastic trim, a bent headlight and wheel noise, although the chair looked intact. A home technician later diagnosed a bent drive wheel.
Repairs Fail to Resolve Noise
Replacing that wheel did not stop the noise, and a later technician blamed the motor. After United Airlines dropped the chair, damaging an armrest and cushion and worsening the noise, multiple technicians replaced motors, wheels, casters and shocks without resolving it. More than 10 appointments left the traveler exhausted.
Manufacturer Identifies Frame Damage
A Permobil representative eventually identified frame damage and said the chair could no longer be certified safe after a drop. United approved a replacement. The account argues that local repairers may lack experience recognizing structural damage from airline handling, prompting the traveler to involve manufacturer representatives sooner. The replacement was damaged on a return American flight, with squeaking reported in its seating system and central pillar.
