SEATTLE – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $150,000 civil penalty against Ameriflight LLC of Burbank, Calif., for allegedly operating a Beech BE-99 when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.
The FAA alleges that on Jan. 8, 2010, an Ameriflight pilot noted in the aircraft’s maintenance log that water was leaking in through a gap in the windshield above the copilot’s visor. The same day, an Ameriflight mechanic “patch sealed” the windshield by applying sealant over the gap. The company returned the aircraft to service on Jan. 12.
On May 17, 2010, an Ameriflight mechanic again patch sealed the gap in the windshield and returned the aircraft to service.
The FAA alleges that patch sealing over the windshield gap was not acceptable maintenance. As a consequence of the gap and patch sealing placed over it, the FAA alleges the aircraft was not airworthy. The agency alleges that Ameriflight operated the aircraft on numerous flights when it was not in an airworthy condition due to these circumstances.
Ameriflight has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.
