01/29/201 1 10:58 FAX 2024935142 FAA - DMS 2)001/00 6 

JMANSPORWION 

U.S. OeportmAnt Soulhwest Region ..'j.JiVlrl OPLRATION P OfTtce of Regional Counsel 

ot Transportation Arkansas, Louisiana, ' " '"' ' 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663 

FAderal Aviation New Mejilco, Oklahoma Fort Worth. TX 76137 

^^J^T.^ - - •:011 JUL ?q A II: 58 ^^'^^„^, ^ 

July 22, 2011 

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED ri,t;: < 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW JUi^ ^ j* -- , 

Washington. DC 20591 ' ^ ^"' ' 

ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building. Suite 2W1000 •^BARING DOCKET 

In the Matter of Continental Airlines. Inc. 

Docket No. CP To Be Assigned v 

Case No. 2009SW270097 -poM^ c^Oll- QOl ^ 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Enclosed are the original and one copy of the complaint in the above-referenced proceeding. 

The Complainant requests that the hearing in this matter be held in the Houston, Texas area, 

and expects that the heanng will last one (1) day 

Please serve me with all documents in this matter. 

Tim Duff, ASW-7E2 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Southwest Region 

2601 Meacham Blvd.. Room 663 

Fort Worth. TX 76137 

Sincerely, 

DAVID L. DONNELL 

Regional Counsel 

Southwest Region 

By: 

Tim Duff 

Attorney 

Safety Enforcement Branch 

TEL: (817)222-5099 

FAX- (817)222-5945 

E-Mai(: Tim. Duff(S>fa3. QOV 

Enclosure 
07/29/2011 10:58 FAX 2024935142 FAA ^ DMS 002/OOti 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

In the Matter of: 

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC. 

FAA Case No 2009SW270097 

FAA Docket CP To Be Assigned 

Judge Not Assigned 

COMPLAINT 

The Complainant files its complaint, under Rule 208 of the Rules of Practice in 

FAA Civil Penalty Actions, 14 CFR §13.208, and states the following: 

Respondent Continental Airlines, Inc.. (CAL) was advised through a Notice of 

Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount 

of $325,000.00. On July 18, 2011, Respondent submitted a written request for a 

hearing. 

11. 

1. Continental Airlines inc. (CAL) holds Air Carrier Operating Certificate 

CALA014A authorizing it to engage in scheduled air transportation under Part 121 of 

the Federal Aviation Regulations. 

2. On or about December 20. 2008, CAL operated Civil Aircraft N14335. a 

Boeing 737 on Flight 1595 scheduled to operate from Houston to Los Angeles. 

3. After takeoff during the flight described in paragraph 2, the aircraft displayed a 

green/red indication on ttie right main landing gear indicator following gear retraction. 

4. The flight crew contacted CAL Maintenance Control and after discussion 

continued the flight 

5. After the flight crew had an additional discussion with CAL Maintenance 

Control concerning higher than anticipated fuel usage, the aircraft diverted to Phoenix 

and landed without incident. 

6. In Phoenix. CAL maintenance personnel inspected the aircraft's landing gear. 

7. CAL personnel did not make an entry in the aircraft maintenance log or any 

other maintenance record concerning the abnomial gear indication. 

• • \ 
07/29/201 1 10:5 8 FAX 202493514 2 FAA - DMS 0003/006 

8. The aircraft operated on at least twelve additional flights before the abnormal 

gear indication was addressed by maintenance technicians. 

9. The aircraft's main landing gear is a component that is critical to safety of 

flight. 

10. By reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances, Respondent CAL 

violated the following sections of the Federal Aviation Regulations (Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations): 

a. Section 121.701(a) in that it took action in the case of a reported or 

observed failure or malfunction of an airframe, engine, propeller or appliance that was 

critical to safety of flight without having made a record of that action in the airplane's 

maintenance log; and 

b. Section 121.153(a)(2) in that it operated an aircraft when it was not in 

an airworthy condition. 

111. 

1. Under 49 U.S.C. §46301, Respondent CAL is subject to a civil penalty for 

each violation of each regulation cited. The maximum penalty per violation is 

$25,000.00. 

2. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of 

$325,000.00 is appropriate. 

Complainant respectfully requests that the administrative law judge enter an 

order that Respondent CAL be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $325,000.00. 

Submitted this 22"*^ day of July, 2011. 

DAVID L. DONNEL 

Regional Counsel 

Southwest Region 

By: 

Tim Duff ^ 

Attorney 

Safety Enforcement Branch 

TEL: (817)222-5099 

FAX: (817) 222-5945 or 5092 

E-MdH: Tim.Duff(a)faa.Qov 
07/29/2011 10 58 FAX 2024935142 FAA - QMS @]004/006 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

! certify that the foregoing Administrator's Complaint has been mailed this date 

by Certified Mail. Return Receipt Requested, to: 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building, Suite 2W1000 

Thomas Newton Boiling 

Vice President and Associate General Counsel 

United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental Airlines, Inc. 

77 W. Wacker Drive - 16'' Floor 

Chicago. IL 60601 

TEL: 312-997-8068 

FAX: 312-997-8068 

E-Mail: Thorn as. bollinQiS>.united com 

(ZcM^. L ^ 

Sylvia^C Twa, Paralegal Specialist 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Southwest Region 

Date: Julv 22. 2011 
07/29/201 1 10:58 FAX 2024935142 FAA - DMS ©OOS/OO B 

UNI T 

Tlioiim" Ncw[i>n B>}lliiiK 

Vice frcMj^fil vt Asifrfiiie (ii:avnil Coimirl 

312'J?? 8068 

Lliyiii:!.\.b_iillllli' f['lllilK-<l.'"iii 

United Air LiiK^- Inr. 

Ctiiiliiiftittil .\irlinr>. Inc. 

77 W.Wicktr Drive-1(." Kl 

l.<:Kikl l><:[>urtiiiciil HDQI.n 

rhicaco. II. fiOrtOl 

July 18.2011 

RECEIVED 

JUL 2 0 2011 

BEARING DOCKET M ^ -

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS 

[•'ederal Aviaiion Adraini.?tration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington. DC 20591 

Attention: Heanng Docket Clerk, AGC-4?0 

Wilbur WHghi Building, Suite 2Wn000 

Re: Continental Airlines, Inc. - Requc;^t for Hearing 

Final Notice ofProposcd Civil Penalty -1 AA Ca.se No. 2009SW'270097 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

By letter dated June 29, 2011, the Lederal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Fma! 

Notice ofProposcd Civil Penally in the above-rclcrcnccd case. Pursuant TO 49 U.S.C. § 46301, 

as amended, and the FAA Rules of Practice in FAA Civil Penally Actions a.s set lorth in 14 

C.K.K. § 1 ?J. 16. Continental Airlincis, Inc. (Continental) hereby requests a hearing in the abovereCerenccd case. In addition, Continental also requests all future communications on this case be 

directed to my attention at the address provided below. 

Thomas Newton Boiling 

Vice President and Associate General Counsel 

United Air Line^i. Inc. and Continental .Airlines, Inc. 

77 W. Wacker Drive 16'^ Floor 

Chicago, IL 60601 

Icl: 312 997 8068 Fax; 312 997 X068 

F.mail: ihunuii.bollint^uvHinilcd.com 
07/29/201 1 10:59 FAX 2024935U 2 FAA - OMS 0006/00 8 

UNITED ^ 

Federal Aviation Administration 

July 18,2011 

Page 2 

Thank you. Please let me know i( you need additional inlormation. 

Smcerely, 

Ihomas Newion Boiling 

Vice President and Associate General Counsel 

ce: Tim DulT. Esq. 

Attorney. Safet)'F.nroreemcnl Branch • ' "''\ f^ T^\\ t T^r% 

Federal Aviation Admmistration —• *^-/ C I V ^ L ^ 

Ofliee of Regional Counsel 

2601 Meacham Boulevard J(JL 9 Q 2011 

Fort Worth. TX 76137 

(VIA FEDER-AL EXPRESS) ^ _ ^ ^.^ , 

HEARING DOCKET