U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration


### May 14, 2013 Northwest Mountain Region Office of Regional Counsel Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming 1601 Lind Avenue S.W. Renton, Washington 98057 Tel: (425) 227-1417 Fax: (425) 227-1007 robert.spitzer@faa.gov



### VIA FACSIMILE AND CERTIFIED MAIL- RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Hearing Docket Federal Aviation Administration (Wilbur Wright Bldg-- Room 2Wl000) 800 Independence Avenue S.W. Washington, D.C. 20591
Re: In the Matter ofAlaska Airlines Inc., FAA CaseNo. 2011NM020013
Enclosed is an original and one copy ofa tequest

# fo~e~1~.d.bomplaint in the abovereferenced proceeding. 

# tN01 

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requests that the hearing in this matter be held in Seattle, Washington, and expects that the hearing will last two (2) days
For scheduling purposes, FAA attorney, Robert Spitzer will be unavailable, July 22-26,2013.
Please address all communications for the FAAto the undersigned at:

Sincerely, Federal Aviation Administration Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 1601 LindAvenueS.W. Renton, Washington 98057 Telephone: (425) 227-1007 FAX: (425 227-1007

Robert Spitzer FAA Attorney 

### I __.

### VG~gs**~o'** 

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# Lf. 0\-\l U-vlv:-J! Enclosures: Request for Hearing (Appeal) Complaint 

# RECEIVED
MAY2 020f3 

# HEARING 

# DOCKET1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 ROBERT SPITZER FAAOFFICE OF REGIONAL COUNSEL 1601 LIND AVE., SW RENTON, WASHINGTON 98057 TELEPHONE: (425) 227-1417 FACSIMILE: (425) 227-1007 

# RECEIVED
MAY 202013 HEARING DOCKET

UNITED STATES OFAMERICA DEPARTMENT OFTRANSPORTATION OFFICE OFHEARINGS WASHINGTON, D.C.

In the Matter of: FAA Case No. 2011NM020013 Alaska Airlines Inc. JUDGE NOTASSIGNED

JUDGENOTASSIGNED:
COMPLAINT
The Federal AviationAdministration (FAA), by counsel, hereby files its Complaint,
pursuant to Rule 208 ofthe Rules ofPractice (14 Code ofFederal Regulations (C.P.R.)§

13 .208), and states as follows:


### I.

On May I, 2013, AlaskaAirlines Inc. (Alaska), was advised through a Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount of

42 

### $16,000. On May 8, 2013, Alaska, through legal counsel, submitted a written request for a 43 44 

### hearing. 45 46 47 48 4 9 I. 50 51 52 53 

### II.

Alaska is now and was at all times relevant herein the holder ofAir Carrier Certificate No. ASAA802A.

COMPLAINT FAA v Alaska Airlines Inc. FAA Case No: 2011NM020013 Page2of6 ROBERT SPITZER, FAA ATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417: FAX: (425) 227-10071 2. 2 3 4 

### 3. 5 6 7 8 9 4. 10 11 12 5. 13 14 15 16 17 6. 18 19 20 7. 21 22 23 8. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1. 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 2. 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 The above-described certificate was issued pursuant to 14 C.P.R. Part 119, and permits Alaska to operate aircraft pursuant to 14 C.P.R. Part 121.
At all times relevant herein Paragraph 

### DOSS ofAlaska's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) authorizedAlaskato use N323AS, a Boeing 737-990 Civil Aircraft (aircraft), inthe conduct ofAlaska's Part 121 operations.
At all times relevant herein, ParagraphA023 ofAlaska's OpSpecs authorized the use ofAlaska's Flight Operations Manual Section 6.100 Bulletin I0-25.
At all times relevant herein, the above described Flight Operations Manual, Section 6.100 Bulletin I0-25, prohibitedAlaska aircraft from taking offwhen frost was present on an aircraft's upper wing surface.
On or about January 7, 2011, Alaska operated the aircraft as Flight 86 (aPart 121 flight) betweenAnchorage, Alaska and Seattle, Washington.
The above described flight departedAnchorage, Alaska despite the fact that frost was adhering to the aircraft's upper wing surfaces. By reason ofthe above,Alaska took offwith an aircraft when frost was adhering to the wings ofthe aircraft.



### III.
By reason 

### ofthe foregoing facts and circumstances,Alaska violated the following

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

a. Section 119.5(1), when it operated the aircraft under Part 121 when it failed to comply with its Operations Specifications by taking off, the aircraft with frost on the upper wing surface;
b. Section 121.629(b), when it took offwith an aircraft with frost onthe upper wing surface.

In accordance with Sections 4630l(a) and (d) ofTitle 49 ofthe United States Code
(U.S.C.) (Transportation) [49 U.S.C. §§ 4630l(a) and (d)], Alaskais liable for a civil penalty notto exceed $27,500 for each ofthe violations noted.

COMPLAINT FAA vAlaska Airlines Inc. FAA Case No: 2011NM020013 Page 3 of6 ROBERT SPITZER, FAA. ATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-10071 

### 3. 2 

### Under the facts and circumstances ofthis case, a civil penalty of$16,000 is

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 

### appropriate.
WHEREFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests that theAdministrative

LawJudge enter an order thatAlaska be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of$16,000.

Respectfully submitted this day of 141 h 

### ofMay, 2013.

# .~······· Robert Spitzer FAAAttorney

COMPLAINT FAA vAlaska Airlines Inc. FAA Case No: 2011NM020013 Page 4 of6 ROBERT SPITZER, FAA ATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-10071 

### ANSWER 2 3 

### In accordance with Section 13.209 ofthe FederalAviation Regulations, Alaska, must answer 4 

### this Complaint not later than thirty (30) days from the time it is served on it. Failure to file an 5 

### Answer within thirty (30) days without good cause shall be deemed an admission ofthe truth 6 

### ofeach allegation contained in the Complaint [14.C.F.R. 

### § 13.209(±)]. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 COMPLAINT FAA v Alaska Airlines Inc. FAA Case No: 2011NM020013 Page 5 of6 ROBERT SPITZER, FAA ATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-10071 

### CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2 3 

### I hereby certify that the foregoing Complaint has been served via facsimile and Certified Mail 4

- 

### Return Receipt Requested this date, to the fo!Jow:ng: 5 6 

### FederalAviation Administration (Original and one copy) 7 

### Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 8 

### Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000 9 

### 800 IndependenceAvenue SW 10 

### Washington, D.C. 20591 n 

### Fax: (202) 493-5142 12 13 

### I also certify thatthe foregoing Complaint has been served via First-Class and Certified Mail 14

- 

### Return Receipt Requested this date, to the following: 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 

### Geoffrey M. Grindeland Mills, Meyers, Swartling 1000 SecondAvenue, 301 h 

### Floor Seattle, WA 98104-1064
Datedthis 14th day ofMay, 2013.

MaryAi1I!ith Office ofRegional Counsel (ANM-7) Federal Aviation Administration

COMPLAINT FAA vAlaska Airlines Inc. FAA Case No: 2011NM020013 Page 6 of6 

### 1601 Lind Ave. SW Renton, WA 98057 (425) 227-2925

ROBERT SPITZER, FAA ATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007