03/30/201 1 07;3 1 FA X 202493514 2 FA A * DM S 121002/00 9 120002/000 9

U. S DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N

I n th e Matte r

of : Tiishan Air , Inc . Responden t Assigne dAdministrativ e La w Judge : RICHARD C . GOODWI N FAA DOCKB T F A A CAS E NO . 2007WP01006 1 r o '. . \ J o i- _ J-- * — 

### :::$? S < — ^ ^ ' —;

- —'— 1 ' -Q'.—'^T ~ r-n^r n =3 3 5;;; ; S I p-;o O ..-r ; —= • T- 1 0 1 O J

ANSWE RT O COMPLAIN T COME S NOW , Respondent , Trisha n Air , Inc. , an dhereb y answer s th e complain t file d herei n on o

r abou t Decembe r

17 , 2009 , by th e Federal Aviatio n Administratio n a s follows! :

I . Responden t

admit s that

it wa s advised , throug h aFina l Notic e o f

Propose dCivi l Psnalty , tha t th e FA A propose dt o asses s acivi l penalt y i n th e amoun t

o f $ 15,40 0 o n o r

abou t Decembers , 2010 . Responden t

admit s tha t

o n o r abou t Decembe r

9 , 2010 , responden t

submitte davvrjtte

n reques t for ahearing .03/30/201 1 07:3 1 FA X 202493514 2 FA A + DM S 0003/00 9 ^0003/000 9



### II . I . Responden t

admit s th e allegation s containe di n Paragrap h 1 . 2 . Responden t

admit s th e allegation s containe di n Paragrap h 2 excep t that additional damag e wa s suffere dby th e subjec t aircraf t i n additio n t o sheerin g th e nos e geajr of f th e airplane . 3 . Responden t

denie s tha

t th e operatio n wa s conducte dwithou t acente r o f gijavit y locatio n for

th e aircraf

t bein g computed . Responden t denie s tha t

th e gros s takeof

f weight hadno t bee n accuratel y calculated . I 4 . Responden t

denie s eac h an dever

y o f the allegation s containe di n Paragrapj i 4 . 5 . Responden t

admit s th e allegation s containe di n Paragrap h 5 . 6 . Responden t

denie s eac h an devery o f

th e allegation s containe di n Paragrap h 6 . III . a . Responden t

denie s eac h andever

y allegatio n that

responden t

violate dFederal Aviatio n Regulatio n 1 4 C.F.R , 91.13 . b . Responden t

denie s eac h an deveiy allegatio n tha t responden t

violate dFedera l Aviatio n Regulatio n 1 4 C.F.R . 91.405(b) . IV. 1 . Responden t

denie s eac h an dever

y allegatio n containe di n Paragrap h 1 tha i responden t

i s subjec t t o acivi l penalty i n an

y amount . 2 . Responden t

denie s tha

t under th e fact s an dcircumstance s o f thi s cas e acivji

l penalt y o f $ 15,40 0 i s appropriat e o r tha t an y amoun t

i s appropriat e hereto .03/30/201 1 07:3 1 FA X 202493514 2 FA A + DM S j.j..i ^ ifi A tj.a'tL>/<u4 i lgl004/00 9 1210004/000 9

AFFIRMATIV E DEFENSES : 1 . Complainan t

ha s faile dt o serv e th e Notic e o f Propose dCivi l Penalt

y an dtli e Complain t

herei n withi n atimel y fashio n pursuan t t o th e rule s se t

fort h i n 4 9 C.F.R . sectic n 82 1 an dpursuan t

t o Unite dState s Depajimen t o f Transportation , Federa l Aviatio n Administration , Orde r 2150. 3 B , an dal l othe r

policie s an dprocedures , withou t showin g goo dcaus e for

su; h delay . 2 . Responden t ha s complie dwith eac h an dever y an dal l applicabl e Federa l A viatio n Regulation s a t

al l time s herei n a s t o th e happening s andcircumstance s complaine do f Responden t

ha s performe dspecificall y t o all provision s o f 1 4 C.F.R . Part s 43 , 9 1 and , amon g others , 43.5 , 43.9 , 43.11 , 91.3 , 91.7 , 91.103 , 91.213 , 91.405 , 91.40 7 an dothe r suc h specifi c regulation s a s ma

y b e presente dat

th e tim e o f

hearing . 3 . A calculatio n o f

specifi c C G locatio n i s no t require dt

o b e mad e before eac h flight unde r 1 4 C.F.R . Pa n 9 1 Operations . Appropriat e C G calculation s ha dbee n mad e for maximu m a s wel l a s middl e condition s t o b e encountere dfo r takeof f b y responden t

pursuan t to 1 4 C .F.R . Part 9 1 an dprio r

t o th e subjec t

flight . A s such , ther e wa s n o actual o r potentia l dange r

t o perso n o r property b y th e action s o f respondent . 4 . Calculation s o f

gros s takeof

f weigh t were accuratel y performe dpursuan t t o typ e certificatio n training , applicabl e manufacture mantials , amon g others , includin g Aircraf t Fligh t Manual , Loadin g Manual , Performanc e Manual , an dexperienc e b y th e pilo t

i n comman dpe r typ e certificatio n trainin g an dthereafter . 5 . Al l informatio n utilize dfor calculatio n o f

gros s takeof

f weigh t cam e from appropriat e logbook s an dmaintenanc e record s entries , appropriat e estimation s o f passenge r individua l weight s an dbaggage , an dfue l load . I n mitigation , an y inaccurac y i n weigh t03/30/201 1 07:3 1 FA X 202493514 2 FA A + DM S

• J . v x V < t V " t X 21005/00 9 1210005/000 9

calculate dversus aciua l takeof f weight wa s du e t o misinformatio n provide db y other s thai f responden t

an dan y inaccurac y wa s no t

apparent to respondent . 6 . Th e gros s takeof

f weigh t o f th e subjec t

aircraf t an dcente r

o f gravit y locatio n were withi n operaiional parameter s an dlimit s suc h tha i th e aircraf t wa s no t exceedin g gros s lal : eof

f weight and/o r C G limitatio n specifie dby th e manufacturer for th e subjec t

takeoff . 7 . Th e aircraf

t wa s airworth y as define dunder th e Federal Aviatio n Regulation s i n al l respect s for

th e operatio n conducte dpursuan t to Letter s o f

Authorizatio n authorizin g tiie subjec t fligh t t o b e conducte dunder

1 4 C.F.R . Par

t 9 L 8 . Th e pilo t

i n comman do f

th e subjec t

aircraf t was typ e rate din . th e aircraf t aln dhad prio r experienc e i n calculatin g gros s takeof f weigh t andcente r

o f gravity location s withi n th e parameter s expecte dan dexperience dfo r th e subjec t

tak e off . 9 . Ther e i s n o criteri at o detemiin e an y violatio n o f any Federa l Aviatio n Regulatio n o r Cod e o f Federal Regulatio n regardin g th e accurac y o f calculatin g gros s takeof

f weight j r C G locatio n suc h tha

t responden t

woul dhav e notic e regardin g an y violatio n o f

inaccurat e calculatio n o f gros s takeof

f weigh t o r C G locatio n a s applicabl e i n th e subjec t tak e of f 10 . Al l maintenanc e record s fo r th e subjec t

aircraf l ha dappropriat e entrie s reg^din g th e inoperativ e thrus t

reverse r at th e tim e o f

th e subjec t

tak e off . U . 1 4 C.F.R . 43. 9 doe s no t require entr

y i n an y logboo k before completio n oflwor k bein g performed . Th e thrus t reverse r repai r wa s no t complete dprio r

t o th e subjec t

take of : 12 . Th e thrus t

reverse r repai r wa s performe db y amaintenanc e facilit y other tha n respondent . Sai dmaintenanc e facilit y provide dresponden t

wit h alis t o f discrepancie s puisuan t l o FA A Par t 43.1 1 an dappropriat e placardin g wa s performe dpursiian t t o 91.213 . Al l suclj i wor

k wa s performe di n conformanc e with th e manufacturers ' provide dmaintenanc e manua l an d03/30/201 1 07:3 2 FA X 202493514 2 FA A • > DM S lgjOOG/00 9 E l 0006/000 9 procedure s se t

fort h therein . Th e maintenanc e facilit y returne dth e aircraf

t t o servic e prio i to tli e subjec t takeoff . 13 . Responden t

hadappropriat e entrie s pursuan t t o 1 4 C.F-R . 91.40 5 i n th e maintenanc e record s fo

r th e subjec t

aircraf t regardin g th e thrus t

reverse r suc h tha t th e ope^tor . pilo t in comman dan

dal l maintenanc e personne l wer e awar e o f th e thrus t reverse r bein g inoperative , appropriat e entrie s wer e mad e i n th e maintenanc e record s an dth e thrus t reveijse r bein g placarde din th e cockpi t a s inoperative . 14 . l"he subjec t

take of f wa s conducte dpursuan t

t o F.A.R . Part

9 1 whic h doe s |io t require , pursuan t

l o th e Minimu mEquipment List , a n operabl e thrus t

reverse r under th e circtmistance s o f

thi s case . 15 . N o criteri ai s se t

fort h a s l o wha

t i s mean t b y a n appropriat e entr

y an dwhai : maintenanc e record s mus t contai n informatio n fo

r th e subjec t

aircraf t a t th e time o f

th e subjec t tak e of f i n relationshi p to tli e inoperativ e thrus t reverser . Appropriat e maintenanc e wor k order s an ddiscrepanc y list s wer e provide dt o responden t b y th e outsid e maintenanc e facilit y i n conformanc e wit

h appropriat e Federal Aviatio n Regulations . 16 . Th e aircraf

t maintenanc e record s ha dappropriate entrie s indicatin g th e air e raf t ha dbee n returne dt o servic e an dsigne dof f b y appropriate maintenanc e personne l a t th e tim e o f th e takeof f i n thi s case . ! 17 . Respondent' s right s unde r th e Du e Proces s an dEqua l Protectio n Amendment s t o th e Unite dState s Constitution , Amendmen t 14 , Articl e 1 (1 4 C.F.R . 13,20S(c)) , hav e bee n violate da s n o clea

r standar dha s bee n allege di n th e complain t and/o r i n th e Federal Aviaiio n Regulation s complaine do f herei n (i.e . FAA Pan s 91.1 3 an d91.405(b) , amon g others ) o f Wha t standar do f

conduc t i s required , what

accurac y o f

conduc t i s required , what

document s o r03/30/201 1 07:3 2 FA X 202493514 2 FA A + DM S j-nj i tiOtu i I yit l

material ar e required , suc h that responden t

coul dcompl y wit

h applicabl e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s i n issu e herein , wha t suc h conduc t

a s performe db y responden t wa s o r woul d @|007/00 9

@10007/000 9

b e i n th e violatio n o f

sai dregulations , an

di f sai dregulation s hadan y effec t an di n what

manne r t o healt h an dsafet

y o f other s i n th e act s an dcircumstance s complaine do f herein . Specifically , but no t limite dt o th e following , responden t complain s tha

t ther e i s n o requiremen t

b y th e Fe e eral Aviatio n Regtilation s fo

r performanc e o f

C G calculatio n an ddeterminatio n unde r Pa n 9 1 fo

r takeof f o n eac h occasion , ther e i s n o criteri aa s t o ih u accurac y o f

th e gros s takeof

f weigh : require dfor

takeoff , ther e i s n o criteri aa s t

o what constitute s th e maintenanc e record s o f ih e subjec t aircraft , an dther e i s n o criteri afo r what constitute s acareles s an dreckles s manne: - o f operatio n with an y degre e o f accuracy , certainty , o r

specificit y pursuan t

t o FA A Part

91.13 . IS . Responden t

allege s tha t

b y th e delay s o f

complainan t

t o brin g sai dcompl aji t whe n complainan t

ful l wel l kne w o r

shoul dhav e know n o f

an y potentia l accusation s o r allegation s o f

an y violation s a s allege dconstitute s latche s l o responden t wh o no w suffer s los s o f evidence , witnesse s an dabilitie s t o presen t evidenc e i n it s defens e pursuan t t o th e passag e o f time . 19 . Responden t further allege s that , in mitigation , an y an dal l violation s o r co t duct , a s allege di n th e complaint , wer e don e iriadvertentl y andpursuan t t o negligen t

andimproper trainin g b y other s than respondent , an db y defectiv e manual s o f th e manufacture r

o f th e subjec t aircraf t an dth e pilo t

trainin g facilit

y wh o traine dresponden t

pilot s i n th e operatio n o f

th e subjec t aircraft . 20 . Responden t

contend s tha t

th e sanction s sough t

to b e impose db y complain^ t d o not mee t th e sanctio n guidelin e an dar e mitigate dby , amon g other s things , that an y actiorl s b y responden t

wer e inadverten t

andno t deliberate , tha t

excep t fo r asmal l persona l injury , no03/30/201 1 07:3 2 FA X 202493514 2 FA A + DM S ^n . tl.Ot^lllVti . @1008/00 9 @loooa/ooo 9

passenger s wer e injured , action s b y responden t wer e a s aresu h o f

th e training , manual s an d informatio n provide db y th e manufacturer , th e pilo t trainin g facility , an dmaintenanc e fac : litie s not apa n o f respondent . Ftmher , tha t sai dsanction s wer e selecte darbitrarily , capriciousl y an d contrary to law . 21 . A s adirec t

resul t o f havin g t o defen dthi s complain t

responden t

ha s incurr(| d aaomey' s fee s an dcost s i n an amoun t accordin g to proof

. Conclusio n Responden t

request s tha t

th e Complain t

b e dismissed , tha t

n o civi l penalty b e assejssed an dtha t responden t

b e awarde dattorney' s fee s an dcosts . Respectftill y submitted : DATED : Marc h 29,201 1

fome y an dCounse l for Trisha n Air , Inc . Franecke La w Grou p 111 5 Irwi n Street , Suit e 100 Sa n Rafael , C A 9490 1 (415)457-704 003/30/201 1 07:3 2 FA X 202493514 2 FA A * DM S 1009/00 9 I2looort/ooo, q

CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E 1 hereb y certif

y tha t o n thi s dat e I hav e mailed , vi aUP S 2 Da y Mail , th e execute dorigina l an dfaxe don e cop y o f

th e Answe r

t o Complaint , addresse da s follows : Federal Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S W Washington , D C 2059 1 Attn : Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC'43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Buildin g - Suite SWIOO

O Facsimile : (202)493-514 2 I hereb y certif

y tha t o n thi s dat e I hav e mailed , vi aUP S 2 Day Mail , atru e cop y o f th e Answer to Complaint , addresse da s follows : Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ e Law Judg e 0£B c e o f H earings , M- 2 0 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 1200 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mE12-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 I hereb y certif

y tha t o n thi s dat e I hav e place di n th e Unite dState s mail , postag e p-epaid , certifie dmaU , atru e cop y o f th e Answer

t o Complaint , addresse da s follows ; Do n Bobert z Attome y Federal Aviatio n Administratio n P.O . Bo x 9200 7 Lo s Angeles , C A 9000 9 Datid : Marc h 29,201 1

Kare n Corral , Legal Assistan t Franeck e Law Group 111 5 Irwi n Street , Suit e 100 San Rafael , C A 9490 1 (415 ) 457-704 0