U.S. Department ofTransportation Federal Aviation Administration 

### FEB ·- 42015 Eastern Region Regional Counsel Telephone: 718 553-3258 Facsimile: 718 995-5699
CERTIFIEDMAIL- RETURNRECEIPT REQUESTED FederalAviation Administration 800 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20591 Attn: Hearing DocketClerk, AGC-430 WilburWright Building- Room 2014 ATTN: HEARINGDOCKET CLERK 1Aviation Plaza Jamaica, NY 11434 

# RECEIVED FEB 092015 HEARING DOCKET

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Re: IntheMatter ofLaurel Avionics Company DocketNo. 20 13EA030023 Enclosed herein please find a copy ofa request for hearing and the original and one copy ofthe FAA's Complaint in the above-entitled action for filing, together with proofofserviceupontheRespondent. The FAA requests that the hearing in this matter be held in the Pittsburgh, PA, and expects that the hearingwill last two (2) days. Please address all communications for the Federal Aviation Administration to the attention ofZachary M. Bennan, Office ofthe Regional Counsel, 1Aviation Plaza Jamaica, NY 11434. Sincerely, AlfredR. Johnson, Jr. Regional Counsel

By:

# Zachary($t~ Attorney Enclosures

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Regional Counsel for the Eastern Region Federal Aviation Administration I Aviation Plaza Jamaica NY 11434 Date
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Laurel Avionics Company, Inc.- 20 13EA030023 Subject Final Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty Response Attachment 

# IVED FEB 092015 HEARING DOCKET

In reply to your Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty Laurel Avionics Company, Inc. elects to proceed as indicated by its check mark beside the numbered paragraph below: 1. (_) Laurel Avionics Company, Inc. hereby submits the amount ofthe proposed civil penalty with the understanding that an Order Assessing Civil Penalty will be issued in that amount. 

## / 2. (:!(' Laurel Avionics Company,**ln~.** hereby requests a formal hearing in accordance with Section U.L6 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations. By sending this form to the Federal Aviation Administration, Eastern Region, Laurel Avionics Company, Inc. also hereby certifies that a copy ofthis form has been filed with the Hearing Docket Clerk (Hearing Docket, Federal Aviation Administration. 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Roomj.l-4:;\, \\'ashiogton, DC 20591, Attention: Hearing Docket Clerk). "<!...0 14- ** Please note that Laurel Avionics Companv lnc. will not be entitled to a hearin2: if it files this form with the Federal Aviation Administration. Eastern Re2ion. \VlTHOUT having filed this fonn or a written request for a hearini!with the HEARING Duc.KET CLERK.



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# EIV FEB 092015 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF HEARINGS

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Inthe Matter ofLaurel Avionics Company 2013EA030023 Judge NotAssigned

COMPLAINT 

### H lNG DOCKET

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by counsel, hereby files its Complaint, pursuant to Rule 208 of the Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. 13.208), and states as follows: I Respondent, Laurel Avionics Company, was advised through a Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penaltythat the FAAproposedto assess a civil penalty inthe amount of $7,500. On January 23, 2015, Respondent submitted a written demand for a hearing. II 1. Laurel Avionics Company, Inc. (hereinafter "Laurel Avionics") is the holder of Approved Repair Station Certificate Number QILR88IL. 2. On or about May 17,2012, Laurel Avionics performed maintenance on a Rockwell Commander 112 aircraft, identification number N112GT (hereinafter "the aircraft").3. Specifically, Laurel Avionics performed an annual inspection on the aircraft. 4. At all times relevant herein, maintenance ofthe aircraft was subject to the requirements of the Rockwell Commander Maintenance Manual. 5. At all times relevant herein, maintenance of the propellers of the aircraftcraft was subject to the requirements ofthe Hartzell Propeller Owner's Manual. 6. Incident to the annual inspection referenced in paragraph 3, above (hereinafter "the May 17, 2012 annual inspection"), Laurel Avionics removed the propeller of the aircraft and sent it to East Coast Propellers for overhaul. 7. At the conclusion of the May 17, 2012 annual inspection, Laurel Avionics made an entry in the maintenance record of the aircraft indicating that the aicraft was in an airworthy condition, and approved the aircraftfor return to service. 8. In fact, the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition. 9. In fact, the aircraft was not in a condition safe for flight. 10. Specifically, the propeller had not been installed in accordance with the Rockwell Commander Maintenance Manual and the Hartzell OPropller Owner's Manual in thatthe 0-ringwas not installed in the 0-ring groove in thee rear ofthe hub, but rather was installed on the engine crankshaft flange. 11. As a result, there was a gap between the propellerhub and the engine flange at severalpropellerhub attach points. 12. On or about May 1, 2013, Laurel Avionics perfonned maintenance on the aircraft. 13. Specifically, Laurel Avionics performed another annual inspection on the aircraft (hereinafter "the May 1, 2013 annual inspection"). 14. At the conclusion of the May 1, 2013 annual inspection, Laurel Avionics made an entry in the maintenance record of the aircraft

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### indicating that the aicraft was in an airworthy condition, and approved the aircraft for return to service. 15. In fact, the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition. 16. In fact, the aircraft was not in a condition safe for flight. 17. Specifically, the propeller had not been installed in accordance with the Rockwell Commander Maintenance Manual and the Hartzell Propeller Owner's Manual as described in paragraphs 11 and 12, above.
III 

### By reason ofthe foregoing, Laurel Avionics violated the following sections ofthe FederalAviation Regulations:

a. Section 4 3.13(a), which states that each person perfonning maintenance, alteration, or preventive maintenance on an aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance shall use the methods, techniques, and practices prescribed in the current manufacturer's maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness prepared by its manufacturer, or other methods, techniques, and practices acceptable to the Administrator. b. Section 145.201(c)(1), which states that a certificated repair station may not approve for return to service any article unless the maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alteration was perfonned in accordance with the applicable approved technical data or data acceptable to the Administrator.

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### IV

1. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §46301(a)(5), Respondent is subjectto a civil penalty not to exceed $11,000 for each oftheviolations alleged. 2. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of $7,500 is appropriate.

WHEREFORE, the FAA, by counsel, respectfullyrequests thatthe Administrative Law Judge enter an order that Respondent be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of$7,500. Respectfully submitted, Alfred R. Jolmson, Jr. Regional Counsel

By:

-------------------- ZacharyM. Berman Attorney FederalAviationAdministration 1AviationPlaza Jamaica, NY 11434 718 553-3258 718 995-5699

4NOTE: The Rules of Practice for this proceeding are set forth in Part 13, SubpartG, oftheFederalAviation Regulations (14 C.F.R. Part 13). The Rules of Practice provide that Respondent must file a written answer to this Complaint, or a written Motion to Dismiss if appropriate, not later than 30 days after the date shown on the Certificate ofService. A general denial is deemed a failure to file an answer (Section 13.209(e)).

5CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certifY that the foregoing Complaint has beenplaced this date in the United States mail, postageprepaid, by CertifiedMail

- ReturnReceipt Requested addressed as follows: John V. Sabel AviationAdvisors, LLC 2515 MintonDrive Moon Township, PA 15108 FederalAviationAdministration (Original and one copy) 800 IndependenceAvenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20591 Attn: HearingDocket Clerk, AGC-430 WilburWrightBuilding-Room 2014 -IF FILINGBYFEDERAL EXPRESS FederalAviationAdministration (Original and one copy) 600 IndependenceAvenue, SW WilburWrightBuilding-Room 2014 Washington, DC 20591 Attn: HearingDocket Clerk, AGC-430


### FEB ·- 4 Date:
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# /J,A-~**h~oks** Paralegal Specialist FederalAviationAdministration Office ofRegional Counsel 1AviationPlaza Jamaica, NY 11434

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