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U.S. Department 

·of Transportation 

Northwes:t Monntajn Regi~n 

Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington,· 

Wyoming 

1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Tel: (425) 227-2161 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

Office of Regional Coun$el 

Fa:x: (425) 227-1.007 

JAFFREY .HARP.ER@F.AA.GOV 

. July 13, 2012 

VIA FACSIMILE AND CERTIFIED MAIL- RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Hea-ring Doek~ 

Fede:ra:l. Aviation Administration 

(Wilbur W~1ght Bldg·· Room 2W1000) 

.800 Independence Avenue S.W. 

Washiiigton, D.C. 20591 

Re: In the Matter of SkyWest ~irlincs, Inc., FAA Case No . .2011NM0600~S 

Enelosod is .., oi;i~ and oi_OOJ>_Y ofare9l"'st for hearlng"l.nd Complaint in 1he abo,._ 

referenced proceedmg. · ' N,c1" ..l.r(!ludll :J s.~ . 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requests that the hearing in this matter. be held in 

Sky West Airlines, Tnc., and expects that tb.e hearing will last one (1) day. . ' 

For scheduling purposes. f M Attorney, Jeffrey Harper will be unavailable in year 2012: August 10-13, 

September 7-10) October 12-15, Novemer ~-5, November 31-Decer.nber 3. 

Please address all communications for the F .AA to the undersigned at: 

Federal Aviation Administration No:rth."-'"'e~t Mo\llltaln Region, ANM· 

1601 Lind AvenueS.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Telephone: (425) 227-2161 

FAX: (425) 227-1007 

ffrey M. Harper 

FAAA~omey 

JMH/ds 

Enclosures: Request _for Heari.T.l.g: (Appeal) 

Complamt 

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JE1PR.EY M. HARPER. 

FAA OFFICE OF REGIONAL COUNSEl. 

)601 LIND AVE., SW 

RENTON, W ASH!NGTON 98051 

TELEPHONE: (425) 227-2J 61 · 

FACSIMILE: (425) 227-1.007 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

WASIDNGTON, D.C. 

In the Matter of: 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060005 

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. 

Judge Not Assigned 

JUDOE NOT ASSIGNED: 

COMPLAINT 

The Federal Aviation Administrati~n (FAA), by collilSel. hereby files its Complaint, 

pursuant to Rule 208 ofthe Rules ofPractice (14 Code ofFederal Regulations (C.F.R.) Section 

13.208), and states as follows; 

I. 

On .T\llle 25~ 2012, Sky West Airlines, Inc., was advised through a Final Notice of 

~ 9 · Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil· penalty in the, amount of 

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$142,500. On. June 29, 2012~ SkyWest, through legal couns¢:1. submitted a written request for a 

hearing. 

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Sky West Aidi:t:~es (SlcyWest) is now aud was at all times material hereto the. holder of 

Scheduled Air Carrier Certificate No. SW1A011A, and conducts its operations pursuant 

to Part 121 of the Fed.e.Tal Aviati"ora R~gula.tionS (FAR). 

COM~LAINT 

FAA v. SkyWc:~ A'i1lines. Inc. 

FA/I. Cas~ No. 20l1NM06000:5 

Page 2 of7 

JEFFREY M, HARPER. F M A TIORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-2161; FAX: (415) 227-1007 
07/19/2012 15:58 FAX 2024935142 FAA + OMS @ 004/008 

PAGE . 04/08 07/13/2012 11:25 425227l0El7 ANM7 

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Paragraph D085 of SkyWest,s Qp!;:rat~.ons Speeifications (OpSpecs) authorizes SkyWest 

to use NS22SK, a Bombardier CL-600-2D24 civil aircraft, in the conduct of Sky West's 

Part 121 operations. 

Paragraph D095 of Sky West's OpSpec:s allows Sky West to use an approved Minimum 

Equipment List (MEL) to defer maintenance. provided certain co11ditions and limitations 

are met. 

SkyWest SP 8175, MEL CL600-2D24 is the approved MEL for SkyWest's Bombardier 

CL-600-2D24 aircraft. 

Procedures listed on the MEL for the discrepancy rnust be completed in order to properly 

defer the discrepatJ.cy. 

On October 18,2010, a flight crew reported an "A PACK FAULT STATUS MSG'' as a. 

mechanical irregul8I'ity in the maintenat1C~ log o:fN82:2SK. 

The ''A PACK FAULT STATIJS MSG" mechanical irregularity was properly deferred 

under SkyWest SP 8175, MEL 27-51-4a. 

. Th.e maintenance procedures for MEL 27-51-4a req:uires maintenance or t1ight crew 

personnel to "verify operation of the pack discharge pressUie sensor by in~:trogating the 

MDC" once per flight day, BIJd that an entry be made in the Aircraft Maintenance Log 

indicating the actions taken. 

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.. Flight Day" is defined in SkyWest's SP 7555, Definitio:ng and Acronyms for Standard 

Practices, as ••a 24 hour period (from 3:00a.m. to 3:00 a,~11.) local time during which at 

least one flight is initiated for the affected aircraft." 

The pack discharge pressure sensor was not verified a.s operable on October 19, 2010 and 

October 20, 2010. 

Between October 19,2010, and the completion oftha:: check on October 21,2010, 

Sky West rdeased, dispatched, aud operated N822SK in commercial service for 17 flight 

cycles. 

Deferral under 'MEL 27-51-4a for these flights "WaS not authorized because the prescrib~d 

daily maintenance procedures had not bee.n completed. · 

At the time ofthe flights on October 19 and October 20, 2010~ N728S:K did not conform 

to all applicable condi.tions and limitations contained in the Jv.IEL and operations 

specifications authorizing use ofthe MEL . 

At the time of the flights on October 19 and October 20, 2010. N728SK was not 

a.irworthy. 

COMPLAINT .1E.FF.UY M. liARPER,. FAA.ATIOJ'I.m'Y 

TeL: (425) 227-2161; FAX: (425) 227-1007 FAA v. SkyWest Airline:s, lne. 

FAA Cll..~e No. 20 l \ NM06000S 

Pa~e 3 of7 
07/18/2012 15:56 FAX 2024835142 FAA + OMS Ia] 005/008 

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Ill. 

By reason ofthe foregoing·facts and circumstances, SkyWest violated the following 

sections ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (14 C.F.R.): 

a. Section 119.5(g), in that, as a direct air carrier~ jt operated in violation of an 

appropriate Operations Spectficatjo.n. 

b. Section 119.5(1), in that it operated an aircraft under }?art 121 in violation of its 

Operations Specifications. 

c. Section 121.628(a)(5), iu. that it took off an airplane ·with inoperable equipment 

installed when the airplane was not operated under all applicable conditions and 

.fun.i.tations contained in the MEL and the operations specifications authorizing use of 

the MEL. 

d. Seotio11 1 ~ 1.605, in that it dispatched or rele~sed an airplane that was unai.r.Worthy. 

e. Section 121. 153(a)(2), in that it operated a.n. aircraft that was unairworthy. 

2. In accordance with Sections 4630l(a) and (d) of Title 49 of the United States Code 

(U.S.C.) (Transportation) [49 U.S.C. Sections 46301 (a) ao.d (d)]~.SkyWest is liable for a. civil 

penalty not to exceed $25,000 for each ofrhe violations noted. 

3. Under the facts and oircumstances of this case, a civil penalty of$142,500 is appropriate .. 

COMPJ ... AINT 

PAA v. SkyW=st. .A.irli'l'l~, Inc. 

FAA Ca~ No. 20 ll:NM06000.5 

· Pnge4of7 

JEFFREY M. HARPER. FAA ATTOT\N!"!' 

TtL: (425) 227·21 ISJ; FAX: (<i25) 227·1007 
07/18/2012 15:57 FAX 2024835142 FAA 

87/13/2012 11:25 4252271007 

+ OMS 

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WHEREFORE. the Agency, by ~ounsel, respectfully r~quests that the Administrative · 

Law Judge enter an order that S.kyWest Airlines, Inc. be asses$ed a civil penalty in the ~ount of 

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$142,500. 

Respectfully submitted tbis ~3th day of July, 20i2. 

1e Jeffrey M, Harper 

J.9 FAA Attorney 

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COMJ'LAINT 

F'AA V. SkyWc..~t.Ai~lines. Inc. 

FAA Case No-. 2Cll1NM06000S 

P~.gc 5 <lf7 

JEFFUY M. HARPER, FAA A 'ITOPJII'i'Y 

TEI..: (425) 227·2161; FAX: (425) 127-1007 
07/19/2012 15:57 FAX 2024935142 FAA 

87/13/2812 11:25 4252271007 ANM7 

2 .ANSWER 

"' OMS ~ 007/008 

PAGE 1217/e!S 

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3 In accordance with Section 13.209 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. SkyWest Airlines, Inc.~ 

-4 must .answer 'this Complaint not later than thirty (30) days from the time it is serve4 on it. Failure 

s to file an Answer within thirty (30) days without good cause shall be de~med an admission of the 

e truth of each allegat;on contained in the Complaint [14.C.F.R. Section 13.209(£)]. 

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CO:tviPLAINT 

'PAl\"- SkyWcstAirlines, lrlt:, 

FAA ClloSe No. 2011NMD6000S 

Page: 6 of7 

· ·JEFFREY M. H.A:RPER, FAA Arror-NEY 

T:eL: (425) 227·2161: FAX: (425) 227·1007 
07119 /2012.15:57 FAX 2024935142 FAA -+ OMS ~ 008/008 

07/13/2812 11:25 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE El8!08 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that the foregoing Complaint has been served via facsimile and certified mailReturn Receipt Requested this date, to tbe following: 

Fe.deral Aviation Administration (Original a:od one copy) 

800 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl 000 

Fax: (202) 493-Sl.42 

Todd Emerson. Es.q. 

Sky West Airlines 

444 S. River Road 

St. George, UT 84790 

TEL: (435) 634-3530 

FAX: (435) 634-3505 

:24 Dated this 13th day of July, 2012. 

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COMPLAINT 

FAA v. SkyWo;:~t Alrlinc:s, 'Tnt. 

P AA Cas.; No. 2<>11NM06000S 

Pag.:: 7 of7 

Office ofRegional Coun.sel (ANM-7) 

Federal Aviation Administratiot;~ 

1601 Lind Ave. SW 

Renton, WA 98057 

(425) 227-2164 

JEF:f"R'EY M. HARPER,. FAAATTOR~Y 

TEL: (42S).l:l7-2Hi1: FAX: (42:5) 2:27~1007·