Company Returned Articles To Service Despite Revocation Of Air Agency Certificate

The FAA has published a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) to alert aircraft owners, operators, air agencies, and maintenance technicians of improper maintenance performed on aircraft accessories/articles by Thunder Airmotive, Inc. (Thunder), which previously held Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Agency Certificate No. ZK3R027M.

On July 5th, 2013 the FAA revoked Thunder’s air agency certificate, No. ZK3R027M. Further investigation conducted by the FAA revealed that Thunder continued to return accessories/articles to service using a revoked FAA certified air agency certificate after the order of revocation was issued on July 5, 2013. Recent evidence confirms Thunder is issuing FAA 8130-3 forms returning to service accessories/articles after the above date of revocation as being overhauled or repaired.

Federal regulations define who is authorized to perform return-to-service actions on approved or acceptable parts following maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding and alterations for type certificated aircraft. Accessories/articles returned to service using a revoked FAA air agency certificate are not in compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 43 § 43.7, placing the flying public at risk.

The FAA recommends that owners, operators, air agencies, and maintenance technicians inspect aircraft, aircraft records, and/or aircraft parts inventories for any accessory/article returned to service by Thunder after July 5, 2013. Accessories/articles discovered installed on an aircraft should be removed and an appropriate return-to-service inspection/action accomplished. Accessories/articles in existing aircraft stock should be quarantined to prevent installation until an acceptable return-to-service determination of the accessory/article can be made regarding its eligibility for installation.

(Source: FAA)

FMI: SAFO