WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $132,425 civil penalty against Mountain Air Cargo of Denver, N.C., for operating an ATR-42 airplane when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.
The FAA alleges Mountain Air Cargo mechanics improperly repaired a dent in a cargo door at the rear of the aircraft in August 2012.
The agency alleges the company failed to follow its FAA-approved aircraft maintenance program, which required it to report the damage to the aircraft manufacturer along with a repair plan, and obtain the manufacturer’s approval for the repairs. The dent exceeded the allowable limits for the kind of repair that was done, the FAA alleges.
Mountain Air Cargo operated the ATR-42 aircraft on 115 flights between August 7 and October 29, 2012 when it was not in an airworthy condition due to the improper repair, the FAA alleges.
Mountain Air Cargo is scheduled to meet with the FAA in mid-September to discuss the case.
