Civil Penalties Proposed For Alleged Safety Violations

The FAA has proposed civil penalties against two aviation businesses for alleged safety violations, One of the companies is in California, the other in Florida.

A fine of $298,500 has been levied against Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (CCIA) of Orlando, FL, for allegedly operating eight Boeing 727 aircraft when the aircraft were not in compliance with federal aviation regulations.

Specifically, the FAA alleges that CCIA permitted an unqualified mechanic to perform certain aircraft inspections and to sign airworthiness releases on the company’s aircraft. The FAA said the certificated mechanic in question had not completed a required general familiarization course for the B-727 and did not have prior training or experience equivalent to that course. The FAA also said the mechanic had not taken the required examination and the company had not evaluated his prior experience and training to perform required inspections on the B-727. As a result, he was not qualified to work on the B-727.

As a consequence, CCIA operated the aircraft on 46 flights in 2008 and 2009 while they were not in compliance with federal aviation regulations.

The other proposed civil penalty is in the amount of $269,000 against The Parachute Center, of Acampo, CA, for allegedly operating a DeHavilland Twin Otter on 41 flights when it was not in compliance with federal aviation regulations.

The FAA alleges that The Parachute Center failed to comply with a 2009 Airworthiness Directive requiring repetitive inspections of the left and right front spar adapter assemblies to identify cracks that might threaten the structural integrity of the airplane. According to the FAA, the company operated the aircraft between November 2 and November 15, 2009, when it was out of compliance with the airworthiness directive.

Both companies have 30 days from the receipt of notification to appeal the fines.

FMI: www.faa.gov