08/04/2015 15:13

Inthe matter of: FAA GLRC



### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTA'tiON

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINIS'tRATION

FAA Docket No. CP-FDMS-2015-2444 Case No. 2014-GL-15-0030 

### MN Airlines, LLC d/b/a ) ) ) ) PAGE 02/11

__________**S~un~** ..**~C~oun~trs_Airlinc~s**______________ -)
_____________________________________________ _ JUDGE NOT ASSIGNED COMPLAINT The Complainant hereby 

### files its Complaint, pursuant to 

### Rule 208 ofthe 

### Rules of Practice in FAA Civil Penalty Actions (14 C.F.R. § 13.208), and states as follows: I. Respondent 

### MN Airlines,**U~C** d/b/a Sun Country Airlines, was advised through a Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty dated July 31, 2014, and by a Final Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty dated July 20,2015, that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount of$25,000.00. 

### By a letter dated July 29, 2015, Respondent requested a hearing. 

### The Enforcement Division, Midwest Team received Respondent's written request for a hearing on August 3, 2015. 

### JI. 1. At all times relevant hereto 

### MN Airlines, LLC, dba Sun Country Airlines (Sun) held Alr Carrier Operator Certificate number SCNA220K, which allowed 

### Sun to operate aircraft under Part 121 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). 2. At all times relevanthereto Sun hadpossession of, and operated a Boeing 737 aircraft, registered as N804SY, in its passenger carrying operations under Part 121. 3. On December 24,2013, personnel for Sun operated N804SY, departed MinDeapolis, Minnesota (MSP) to Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS).08/04/2015 15:13 8472947498 FAA GLRC PAGE 03/11
2 

### 4. Upon arrival in LAS on December 24, 2013, personnel entered the following discrepancy (the 12/24!13 discrepancy) in the aircraft log, Autothrottle wouldnotarmprior to takeoff (in MSP). 

### 5. Prior to departing LAS to MSP on December 24, 20 I3, personnel for Sun deferred the 12/24/13 discrepancy and entered the following in

### the aircraft log, De] erredAutothrottle System mop.perMEL 22-4 Cat C

### Placard# 90006 MDDR 86683 me notified. 

### 6. OnDecember 24, 2013, personnel for Sun operated N804SY dc::parting LAS and arriving in

### MSP with an inoperative Autothrottle System, rather than moving the aircraft to a facility whc::re necessary maintenance could be performed. 7. On December 25, 2013, maintenance personnel entered the following in the aircraft log, REFMEL 22-4, PLACARD# 90006, MDDR 86683, AUTO THROTTLE SYS 

### TNOP 

### R. Sun's operation ofN804SY from LAS to MSP with an inoperative Autoth.rottle System when maintenance ofthe system was not deferred before departure rendered Sun in violation ofrequirements found in Section l21.628(a)(2) 9. Sun previously encotmtered a similar instance onJuly 20, 2013. 10. On July 20, 2013, Sun possessed and operated a Boeing 737 aircraft registered as N818SY. 11. On July 20, 2013, N818SY encountered an inoperative Autothrottle System after pushback and prior to takeoffat Lewiston, Idaho (L

### WS) to Seattle, Washington (SEA). 12. The inoperative Autothrotile System was subsequently deferred upon completion ofthe flight segment to SEA rather than prior to take-off, as required under 14 C.P.R. 121.628(a)(2). 13. The July 24, 20l3 matter was investigated (EIR 2013GL150045) by the FAA08/04/2015 15:13 8472947498 FAA GLRC PAGE 04/11

14. On August 7, 2013, Sun agreedto take corrective action to applicable parts of its 

### MEL program which included making changes to the Quick Reference Handbook. 15. Sun failed to complywith a Letter ofCorrection dated September 13,2013. 

### 16. An audit performed 

### by Sun Safety Department indicated no findings and the required changes to the 

### MEL program. 3



### 17. The December 2, 2013, instance is 

### the second time in five months that Sun has violated 

### 14 C.F.R. 12L628(a)(2). III. 

### 1. By reason ofthe foregoing, Respondent violated:
a. l4C.F.R. 

### § 12l.628(a)(2). 2. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 

### §46301, you 

### are subject to 

### a civil penalty notto exceed $25,000 for eachviolation ofthe regulat),ons. Under the facts and circumstances ofthis case and in accordance with the Admi.nisttator's Sanction Guidance 

### in FAA Order 2150.3B, Appendix B, 

### a civil penalty of$25,000 is appropriate for the violation(s) in this case. WHEREFORE, the Complainant respectfully requests that the Administrative Law Judge enter an order that Respondent be assessed a civil penalty i.n the amount of$25,000. Respectfu.lly submitted, Peter J. Lynch Assistant ChiefCounsel

for Enforcement By:

# ~~~~~~1W~~------**·~\I** Kate Barber ·



# "7 Enforcement Division, idwest Team Great La\::cs Regional Counsel's Office 2300 E. DevonAve., Suite 479 Des Plaines, IL 600 18 email: kate.barber@faa.gov08/04/2015 15:13 8472947498



### Date: August 4, 2015 FAA GLRC

TeleJ?hone: (847)294-7109 (main) (847)294-7862 (direct) (847)294-7498 (fax)

NOTE: PAGE 05/11 

### 4

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. 

### § 13.209(a), a written answer to a com.plaint must be filed no later than thirty (30) days after service ofthe complaint.08/04/2015 15:13 8472947498 FAA GLRC PAGE 05/11

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on this date, I have 

### seu.t by U.S. Certified Mail- return receipt requested, and via facscimile, a copy ofthe foregoing complaint 

### in the matter of

### MN Airlines, LLC d/b/a 

### Sun Country Airlines, 

### fAA DocketNo. CP" FDMS-2015-2444, Case No. 2014-GL15-0030, to: Donald Chance Mark, Jr. Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A. Flagship Corporate Center 775 Prairie Center Drive Suite 400 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Facs: 952.995.9577 5

In addition, I hereby certify that on this date, I have sent by U.S. Certified Mail- return receipt requested, the original and one copy ofthe foregoing document to: Hearing Docket Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20591. Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2W!OOO Facs: 202.267.1293

Tammy Gardner Legal Assistant Enforcement Division, Midwest Team Great Lakes Regional Counsel's Office 2300 E. DevonAve., Suite 479 Des Plaines, IL 60018 Date: August 4, 201508/04/2015 15:13



# Fl\~IT FafinskiM:!rk&



# Johnson~ FAA GLRC PAGE 07/11

Fali:Mkl M.o'lrk & Johnson, P.A

**Attorn~** At La.w Fl"W"hip Corpm:•te Conttr 775 Prairie Center Driw, Suite 400, Eden Prairie, MN 65544 Telephone: 952,995.9500 ,llac,irnil.eo 9£2.995.967'7 Wob,itc' www.hn.jl•w,co:m 

### July 21, 2015 

# RECEIVED

**------~H~e-~~.-g~D~o~ck~ct-------------------------------------itltttrrom**



### fede~:al Aviation Administration 

## HEARING DOCKET 800 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

### 'l

# 0 l.cf_
_ '1 Lf t 

### 1

# 4
_ Washington, DC 20591 

### d --.) d 

### l 

### 1 Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk 

### AGC-430 Wilber Wright Building, Suite 2Wl000 

### Re: MN Airlines, LLC d/b/a Sun Country 

### Airlines AGL-7B 2014-GL-15-0030 

### Dear Hearing Docket 

### Clerk: Please be advised 

### that Sun Country Airlines elects to appeal the Final Notice 

### ofProposed. 

### Civil Penalty, a

### copy,of;which is 

### enclosed. This appeal is made pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 

### 13.16. ··,;·, .. Please 

### docket this matter 

### and further advise concerningthe assignment ofan AdministrativeLaw Judge.

. ;· '.' ' ....' .._: ',"·. 

### Thank you for your attention 

### to this matter. Any further communications concerning this case should be directed to niy 

### attention. """'""''-'"·"-"·•

DCMjr:\'ljf• '
. . . , . Enclosure · ·' ·· . ',
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.08/04/2015 15:13

U. S,

**Peport~nent** ofTrnnspornrtlon

**Fed~**JA viatiot1 Adm!nl$tratt{ln 

### July 20, 2015 8472947498 FAA GLRC

**Gr~t. 1,.,1.~**  n.tmrrn 2.300 EB..'lt bcvQil Avenutt

**~ PJalr1'l:~,**  Hlino.Js: (iOOHI-4696 PAGE 08/11

**----------~l~nE&~l~~~~-------------------------------------------------------------­** Reforto: AGL·7B 2014-GL·l5-00JO Area Code 847 294-7713 

### B,EGUL.i\R. AND CERTIFIEDMAIL-

**RETU~** 

### RECEIPT Rll',QUESTED Stan Gadek, President!CEO MN Airlines, LLC 

### dba Sun Country Airlines 1300 MendotaHeights Road 

### Mendota Heights,Minnesota 55120 

### FINALNOTICE QF PRQPQSED CJ:VlL PENALTY You were 

### advised through aNoticeofProposed 

### Civil Penalty, dated 

### .l'uly 31,2014, 

### that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty iu

**th~** amountof$25,000,00. After considering all the evidence in

### this matter, 

### it appesrs that: 

### 1. At all times relevant hereto 

### MNAirlines, LLC, dba Sun Country 

### Airlines (Sun) heldAir Carrier OperatorCertificate nlllllbet SCNA220K, which allowed Sun to opel'3:te 

### aircraftunder 

### Part 121 of

### the Federal Aviation Regulations 

### (JlARs). 

### 2. At alltitues relevant hereto Sun

### had 

### possessia<l of, and operated 

### a. Boeing 

### 737 aircraft, registered as N804SY, in 

### its passenger carrying operations under Part 121. 

### 3. On

### December 24; 2013, personnel for Sun operatedN804SY, departed Minneapolis, Minnesota (MSP) to Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS). 4. Upon arrival in LAS 011 December24, 2013, personnel enteredthe 

### following discrepancy (the 12/24/13 discrepancy) in the eir<l{aft log, 

### Autothrottle wouldnot armprior to takeoff(in MSP), 5. Priorto departingLAS toMSP

### on December 24, 2013, 

### personnelfor Sun deferredthe 12/24/13 discrepancy and entered the following in the aircraft log,08/04/2015 15:13 FAA GLRC



### DeferredAutothrottle System inop, perMEL 22-4 Cat CPlacard#90006 MDDR 86683 ma notified. (i. 

### OnDecember24, 2013, personnel for Sun operated N804SY departing LAS and arriving in MSP with an Inoperative Autothrottle System, rather than moving the airctafl: to afacility where necessary maintenance could be performed. 

### 7. OnDecember 25, 20l3,

### maintenance personnel enteredthe 

### followlo,g in 

### the aircraft log, 

### REFMEL 22-4" PLACARD#90006, 

### MDDR 86683, AUTO THROTTLESYS 

### INOP 8. Sun deferred therep!lir ofthe inoperative Autothrottle System and operated \Vith an inoperativeAutotbrotile System was 

### deferred lnLAS before departure rendered Sun 

### !n violation ofrequirements found in Section l2L628(a)(2) 

### 9. Sun previously encountered a similar instance on July 20, 20l3. 10. On July 20, 2013, Sun possessed and operated a Boeing 737 aircraftregistered asN818SY, 11. On 1uly 20, 2013, N818SY encountered an inoperative Autothrottle System afterpushback and prior to takeoffatLewiston, Idaho (LWS) to Seattle, Washington (SEA), 12. The inoperative AutotlJ:rott!e System was subsequently deferred upon completion ofthe flight 

### segment to SBA rather than 

### priorto take"off, as requiroo under 14 C.f.R. 121.628(a)(2). 

### 13. The July 24, 2013 matter was investigated (ElR20!3GLIS0045)by the FAA.. 14. On August 7, 20!3, Sun agreed to take corrective action to 

### applicable

**pa:rt~** 

### of its :MEL program which included making changes to the Quick Reference Handbook.. 15. Sun failed. to comply with

**aL~er** 

### ofCorrection dated September 13, 2013. !.6. An audit performed by Sun Safety Departmentindicated no fmdings and the required changes to the MEL program.08/04/2015 15:13 8472947498 FAA GLRC PAGE 10111

3 17. TheDecemb()l' 2, 2013, instanceis the second time infive months that Sll!l has violated 14 C.F.R. 12l.628(a)(2). By !"eason ofthe foregoing facts and circumstances, Sun violated the following Federal Aviation Regulations:
a. 14 C.F.'R. 

### § 1Z1.628(a)(2),which states that no person may take offan -----------"'"'-!,'". **:me_withjnope~~l"-tl~fl~st<ltle4-\mtess-the-aifplan'te£c-------­** is operated under all applicable conditions and limitations contain<:ld inthe Minimum EquipmentList and the opera:t1ons specifications authorizing use of 

### the M:lnimumEquipment

### List Und<J<' Title49 U.S.C. §46301, you are subjectto a civilpenalty notto exceed $25,000 f-or each violation ofthe .1'\lgulations. After reviewing our investigative £He, we propose to assess a civil penalty inthe amow1t of$25,000 for these violations. Within fifteen (15) days 

### after yourreceiptofthis Final Notice ofPropcsed Civil Penalty, you must elect to either submitthe full civil penalty amount of$25,000 orrequest a formal hCllring. Ifyou fail to respond with one ofthese altematives, an OrderAssessing Civil Penalty, requiring

.payment ofthefull amount ofthe proposed civil penalty, will be issued.

Should youelectto submitthe 

### civil penalty, please mail or deliver a 

### certified check or money order, payable to the Federal Aviation Administration, to the Federal AviationAdmini'i\ration, Office ofRegional Counsel, 2300 East Devon Avenue (AGL-7, Room 4 79), Des Plaines, Ulinois 60018. Please include, enthe certified check ormoney order, the FAA case n=ber 2014-GL15-0030. Inthe alternative, you may paythe civil 

### penalty withacredit card, or a bank account debit, over the Internet To pay electronically, visit the web site at bttps://www.pay.gov. Under the Search Public Forms option, type in "FGL-FINEI." Click on "Civil Penahy Payments- Great Lakes Region". You must then complete the requested informati.on and click "Continue." Yoct will then be directed to enter)'Qur credit card or bank account debit hlformation. To use the bank account deb\t, you will need your bank routing nUl)lber, account number, and check number. Should youelectto request a, formal he!lring, you must ftle atypewritten or legibly handwritten request for hearing withthe hearing docket clerk at: Hearing Docket, Federal Aviation Adminictration, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W,, Washington, DC 20591; Attention: Hearing DocketClerk, AGC--430, WilberWrlghtBuilding- Suite 2Wl000. You must also mail acopy ofyourrequest for ht:aring to the undersigned attorney at the address 

### provided il1 the 

### previo1lS paragxaph. Yourrequ.est rnust be dated and signed, in accordance with Section 13.16 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (14 C ..P.R. 13.16), a copy ofwhich was sent to you with the Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty. Please addres$ aU communications to me atthe address noted above.08/04/2015 15:13 8472947498

Jeffery 

### Klang Regional Counsel

# ir~ Ja\eBarbe¥ Attorney

cc: Mr. Thomas Ting, Counsel l'vlN 

### Airlines, LLC

. 1300 MendotaHeights Road

MendotaHeights, Minnesota 55120 

### co: MSP FSDO 

### (Johnson) FAA GLRC PAGE ll/ll

4