U. S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

/! 

Alaskan Region 

Office of the Regional Counsel 

CERTIFIED MAIL--RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000 

Re: In the Matter of Pathfinder Aviation, Inc. 

Case No. 2012AL030004 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

222 W. 7th Avenue #14 

Anchorage, Alaska 

99513-7587 

PH: (907) 271-5271 

FAX: (907) 271-2800 

RECEIVED 

FEB 2 1 2012 

.'fEARING DOCKET 

On February 6, 2012, we were notified that Pathfmder Aviation, Inc., requested a hearing in the abovereferenced case. 

Enclosed are the original and one copy of the Complaint in the above-referenced proceeding as required 

by§ 13.208(a) of the Rules of Practice in FAA Civil Penalty Actions, 14 C.P.R. Part 13, Subpart G. By 

copy of this Jetter, a copy of the Complaint is being served on Respondent as required by§ 13.208(b). 

The FAA requests that the hearing in this matter be held in Anchorage, Alaska, aud expects that the 

hearing will last no more thau one day. 

HOWARD L. MARTIN, JR. 

Regional Counsel 

By: 

Glenn H. Brown 

Senior Attomey 

Enclosures 

cc: Pathfinder Aviation, Inc. (Michael W. Fell) 

(with copy of FAR 13.16 and Subpart G of Part 13) 
RECEIVED 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION L 1 2012 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HEARING DOCKET 

In the Matter of: 

FAA Docket No. Unassigned 

Pathfinder Aviation, Inc. 

Judge Not Assigned 

COMPLAINT 

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. 

On January 12, 2012, Respondent was advised through a Notice of Proposed Civil 

Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount of $6,600. On 

February 1, 2012, an informal conference was held in this matter. On February 2, 2012, 

Respondent submitted a written request for a hearing. 

II. 

1. Respondent is now, and at all times mentioned herein it was, the holder of Air Carrier 

Certificate No. P3TA192K and appropriate operations specifications authorizing it to 

conduct on-demand operations under parts 119 and 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 

(FAR). 

I 
2. At all times referenced herein, Respondent was authorized by its operations specifications 

to operate civil aircraft N204P A, a Bell Model206B3 rotorcraft, in its operations subject to 

parts 119 and 135 of the FAR. 

3. While Respondent was operating civil aircraft N204PA on or about September 23,2011, 

on a flight in air commerce on the Harding Ice Field near Seward, Alaska, the number 3 

segment ofthe tail rotor drive shaft failed at the bonded adapter. 

4. The failure referenced in paragraph 3 caused the pilot to completely lose tail rotor 

authority, and required him to make an emergency hover landing. 

5. The failure reference in paragraph 3 constituted the failure of an aircraft component or 

system that resulted in the taking of emergency action during flight. 

6. Respondent did not report the failure referenced in paragraph 3 to the FAA offices in 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, within the time period specified in§ 135.415(d) of the FAR. 

III. 

l. By reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances, Respondent violated§ 135.415(d) 

. of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) in that Respondent was required to submit a 

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service difficulty report and failed to submit it to the FAA offices in Oklahoma City, 

Oklahoma, within the time limit specified in this section. 

2. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 4630l(a) and 14 C.F. R. § 13.305, Respondent is subject to a 

civil penalty of$11,000 for each violation of the FAR. 

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

WHEREFORE, the Federal Aviation Administration, by counsel, respectfully requests 

that the administrative law judge enter an order that Respondent be assessed a civil penalty in the 

amount of $3,500. 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this f?,th of Februc:uy ;;10/.2_ 

HOWARD L. MARTIN, JR. 

Regional Counsel 

By: 

3 

Glenn H. Brown 

Senior Attorney 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

Re: Pathfinder Aviation Inc. 

FAA Case No. 2012AL030004 

FAA Docket No. To Be Assigned 

I hereby certify that on this date I served a copy of the FAA's Complaint and a copy of the 

foregoing letter by placing them in the United States Mail, postage-prepaid, certified mail, return 

receipt requested, addressed as follows: 

Michael W. Fell 

President 

Pathfinder Aviation, Inc. 

P.O. Box 375 

Homer, AK 99603 

I further certify that on this date I have served the original of the foregoing letter and the original 

and one copy of the FAA's Complaint by postage-prepaid, certified mail, return receipt 

requested, addressed as follows: 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl 000 

~~~~~~;J .. /P/J Office ofthe Regional Counsel 

222 West 7th Avenue #14 

Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7587 

4 

&_Lf. 1//- QD I :.2_ 

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