U. S. Department ofTransportation Federal Aviation Administration
/! Alaskan Region Office ofthe Regional Counsel

CERTIFIED MAIL--RETURNRECEIPT 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 ofPathfinder 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 

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# .'fEARING DOCKET

On February 6, 2012, we were notifiedthatPathfmder Aviation, Inc., requested a hearing in the abovereferenced case. Enclosed are the original and one copy ofthe Complaint inthe above-referencedproceeding as required by§ 13.208(a) ofthe Rules ofPractice in FAA Civil PenaltyActions, 14 C.P.R. Part 13, Subpart G. By copy ofthis Jetter, a copy ofthe Complaint is being served on Respondent as required by§ 13.208(b). The FAA requests thatthe hearing inthis matterbe held in Anchorage, Alaska, aud expects that the hearing will lastno 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 ofFAR 13.16 and Subpart G ofPart 13)

# RECEIVED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION L 

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# 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 ofthe Rules ofPractice (14 C.F.R. § 13.208), and states as follows: I. On January 12, 2012, Respondent was advised through a Notice ofProposed 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 inthis 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 ofAir Carrier Certificate No. P3TA192K and appropriate operations specifications authorizing it to conduct on-demand operations under parts 119 and 135 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).

I2. At all times referenced herein, Respondent was authorized by its operations specifications to operate civil aircraftN204PA, a Bell Model206B3 rotorcraft, in its operations subject to parts 119 and 135 ofthe 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 Fieldnear Seward, Alaska, the number 3 segment ofthetail rotor drive shaft failed at the bonded adapter.
4. The failure referenced in paragraph 3 caused the pilotto completely lose tail rotor authority, and required himto make an emergency hover landing.
5. The failure reference inparagraph 3 constituted the failure ofan aircraft component or system that resulted inthe taking ofemergency action during flight.
6. Respondent did notreport the failure referenced inparagraph 3 to the FAA offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, within the time period specified in§ 135.415(d) ofthe FAR.

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

.ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) inthat Respondent was required to submit a

2service difficulty report and failed to submitit 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 eachviolation ofthe FAR. 3. Under the facts and circumstances ofthis case, a civil penalty of$3,500 is appropriate. WHEREFORE, the Federal Aviation Administration, by counsel, respectfully requests thatthe administrative lawjudge enter an order that Respondent be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of$3,500. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 

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# Februc:uy ;;10/.2_ HOWARD L. MARTIN, JR. Regional Counsel By:



### 3 Glenn H. Brown Senior AttorneyCERTIFICATE OF SERVICE Re: Pathfinder Aviation Inc. FAA Case No. 2012AL030004 FAA Docket No. To Be Assigned I hereby certify that onthis date I served a copy ofthe FAA's Complaint and a copy ofthe foregoing letter by placingthem 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 onthis date I have served the original ofthe foregoing letter and the original and one copy ofthe FAA's Complaint by postage-prepaid, certified mail, return receipt requested, addressedas follows: FederalAviationAdministration 800 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20591 ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000

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# .. /P/J Office oftheRegional Counsel 222 West 7th Avenue #14 Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7587



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