• v 

### ^^FPARTkiENTO F iRAMSPORTATlO

N • .or.KET OPEnATIOM

S U.S . DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N

OFFIC E O FHEARING S ;;-?l^^r|^; 3 p 1:5 RWASHINGTON , D.C . 

### I N TH E MATTE RO FMA R1 9 . 201 2 EMPIR E FLIGH T ACADEM Y "EAR/N Q 

### DOCKE T Docke t No . FAA-2011-029 0 (CP10EA0004 ) Administrativ e La

w Judg e (ALJ ) J.E . Sullivan AGENCY^ S PRE-HEARIN G BRIE F COME S NOW Complainan t (th e Agency) , b y an d throug h it s designate d representative , th e Regiona l Counse l fo r th e Eastern Regio n an d hi s dul y designate d agents , andsubmit s Agency' s Pre-Hearin g Brie f i n accordanc e wit

h th e Orde r

o f th e AL J i n thi s proceeding , date dNovembe r 22 , 2011 . TH E COMPLAIN T Th e Complaint , a s amended , allege s a s follows : 1 . A t ail time s relevan t

herein , Empire Fligh

t Academy wa s th e operato r o f a Diamon dDA-2 0 aircraft , identificatio n numbe r N383C A (hereinafte r

"th e aircraft") . 2 . O n o r

abou t April 8 , 2009 , durin g takeof f rol l o f th e aircraf

t b y astudent pilot , ther e wa s avibratio n i n th e nos e gea

r area . 3 . Th e studen t

pilo t reporte dth e vibratio n tha t h e ha dexperience dto Empire Fligh t Academy . 4 . A t some poin t

betwee n April 8 , 200 9 an dJun e I , 2009 , Empire Flight Academy re-assemble dth e wheel assembl y o n th e aircraft . 5 . N o lo g entr

y wa s ever

made o f th e re-assemblin g o f

th e wheel assembl y o n th e aircraft . 6 . Th e re-assemblin g o f th e wheel assembl y o n th e aircraf t wa s no t approve d fo r return t o servic e b

y a n authorize dperson .7 . O n o r abou t Jun e 1 , 2009 , Empire Fligh t Academ y proceede dt o operat e th e aircraf t o n afligh t t o Republi c Airport , Farmingdale , N Y (hereinafter "th e Jun e 1 flight") . 8 . Prio r

t o th e Jun e 1 flight , no lo g entr y wa s mad e o f

th e re-assemblin g o f th e whee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . 9 . Prio r

t o th e Jun e I flight , th e re-assemblin g o f th e whee l assembl y o

n th e aircraf t wa s no t approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b y a

n authorize dperso n 10 . Empir e Fligh t

Academ y thereb y operate dth e aircraf t o n Jun e 1 , 201 0 when th e aircraf

t wa s not i n a n airworth y condition . Th e Complain t

allege s tha

t Complainan t

violated , specifically , th e followin g section s o f th e Federal Aviatio n Regulation s (FARs) : a . §91.405(b) , whic h state s tha t eac h owner

o r operato r o f a n aircraf t shall ensur e tha

t maintenanc e personne l make appropriat e entrie s i n th e aircraf

t maintenanc e record s indicatin g th e aircraf t ha s bee n approve dfo

r retur n t o service . b . §91.407(a)(1) , whic h state s tha t n o perso n ma

y operat e a

n aircraf t tha t ha s undergon e maintenance , preventiv e maintenance , rebuilding , or alteratio n unles s i t ha s bee n approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b

y aperso n authorize d unde r Sectio n 43. 7 o f

th e Federa

l Aviatio n Regulations . c . i^91.407(a)(2) , whic h state s tha t no perso n ma

y operat e a

n aircraf t tha t ha s undergon e maintenance , preventiv e maintenance , rebuilding , or alteratio n unles s th e maintenanc e recordentr y require db y Section s 43. 9 or 43.11 , a s applicablQ , o f

the"Fe"derarAviatio n Regulation s ha s bee n made . d . §91.7(a) , whic h state s tha t n o perso n ma

y operat e a

n aircraf t i n a n unairworth y condition . Althoug h Responden t

didno t admit an y o f th e allegation s i

n th e Complaint , th e overwhelming , undispute devidenc e support al l th e allegation s i

n th e Complaint , a s shall b e demonstrate dbelow .ISSLfES 1 ) Whethe r

Empir e Flight

Academ y (EFA ) wa s th e operato r o f aircraf t N383C A durin g th e relevan t

tim e perio d(i.e. , April 8 , 200 9 throug h Jun e 1 , 2009) ? 2 ) Whether , o n Apri l 8 , 2009 , durin g takeof f roll o f th e aircraf

t b y astuden t

pilot , ther e wa s avibratio n i

n th e nos e gea

r area ? 3 ) Whethe r

th e studen t

pilo t reporte dth e vibratio n tha t he ha dexperience dt o EFA ? 4 ) Whether , a

t some poin t

betwee n Apri l 8 , 200 9 andJunel , 2009 , EF A re assemble dth e whee l assembl y o n th e aircraft ? 5 ) Whether , o n Jun e 1 , 2009 , EF A operate dth e aircraf

t o n aflight

t o Republi c Airpon , Farmingdale , NY ? 6 ) Whether , prio r

t o th e Jun e I , 200 9 flight , alo g entr y wa s mad e o f

th e re assemblin g o f

th e whee l assembl y o

n th e aircraft ? 7 ) Whether , prio r

t o th e Jun e 1 , 200 9 flight, th e re-assemblin g o f th e wheel assembl y o n th e aircraf

t wa s approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b

y a n authorize dperson ? 8 ) Whethe r

EFA violate d§91.405(b ) o f th e Federal Aviatio n Regulation s (FARs) ? 9 ) Whethe r

EFA thu s violate d§91.407(a) ( 1 ) o f th e FARs ? 10)Whether

EF A thu s violate d§91.407(a)(2 ) o f th e FARs ? 11 ) Whethe r

EF A thu s violate d§91.7(a ) o f th e FARs ? 12 ) Whether acivi l penalty o f

$15,30 0 i s appropriate ? ARGLFMEN

T (1 ) EF A wa s th e operato r

o f aircraf t N383C A durin g th e tim e perio dApril 8 . 200 9 throug h Jun e 1 . 2009 . Th e evidenc e that

EF A wa s th e operato r

- i n fact , th e sol e operato r - o f th e aircraf t durin g th e tim e perio di

n questio n include dth e following :(a ) Th e Agency , o n Novembe r 10 , 2009 , issue daNotic e o f Propose dCivi l Penalty (NOPCP ) t o EF

A wit h substantiall y th e sam e allegation s a s containe d i n th e Complaint . Exhibi t C-1. ' I n respons e t o thi s action , John Zaremba , th e presiden t o f EFA , wrot e aletter

t o th e FA

A i n whic h he admitte dtha

t EF A bot h operate dan

dmaintaine daircraf

t N383CA . Exhibi t

C-2. ^ (b ) A s reflecte di

n FA A registratio n record s an da s state di

n Respondent' s Motio n fo

r Decisio n date dJun e 3 , 2011 , a t al l relevan t times , Clyd e Ai

r Leasin g wa s th e owner

o f th e N383C A aircraft . Exhibi t C-4 . Accordin g to a statemen t fro mClyd e Ai

r Leasing , th e aircraf

t wa s o n leas e wit

h EF A durin g th e entir e yea

r 200 9 a t Republi c Airport . Exhibi t C-5 . Clyd e Ai

r Leasing , i

n fact , provide dcopie s o f

it s monthl y leasebac k

statement s wit

h EF A durin g th e tim e perio dApri l t o Jun e 2009 , reflectin g tha t EF A lease dth e aircraf

t fro m Clyd e Air Leasin g andwa s th e operato r o f th e aircraft . Exhibi t

C-6 . (c ) Durin g hi s investigatio n o f th e incident , Aviatio n Safet y Inspecto r

(ASI ) Misian o discovere dtha

t EFA , a s afligh

t school , continuousl y operate dan d maintaine dth e aircraf

t fo r flight instructio n purpose s durin g Apri l throug h Jun e o f 2009 . Exhibi t

C-7 , Paragrap h 4 . Additionally , AS I Misiano' s investigatio n reveale dtha t EF A specificall y authorize dth e flights date dApril 8 , 200 9 andJun e 1 , 200 9 tha t resulte di

n incident s andtha

t EF A performe d maintenanc e o n th e aircraft' s nos e wheel assembl y durin g tha t period . Exhibit

' Th e exhibit s reference dherei n are containe di n th e Agency' s Exhibit/Witnes s List .

- Whil e th e incorporatio n recor dprovide db y Mr . Zaremb aindicate dtha t th e name o f

th e corporatio n a s o f

February 20 , 200 9 wa s Empir e Flight , Inc. , publi c record s indicat e tha t th e name o f

th e corporatio n wa s change dto Empir e Flight Academy , Inc. , o n Ma

y 1 , 2009 . Exhibi t

C-3 .C-7 , Paragrap h 5 . Th e informatio n relie dupo n b y AS I Misian o to suppor t hi s conclusio n include dawritte n statemen t fro mSame r E l Sayed , date dJun e 5 , 2009 , i n whic h Mr . E

l Saye dstate dtha

t he performe dmaintenanc e o n th e aircraf t o n behal f

o f EF A (Exhibi t

C-8) ; flight

maintenanc e log s fo

r th e N383C A aircraf

t fro mApril 7 , 200 9 throug h Jun e 1 , 2009 , whic h bea r th e nam e o f EFA (Exhibi t

C-9) ; logboo k

retur n t o servic e o f

th e aircraf

t afte r th e Jun e 1 , 200 9 incident , whic h bear s th e nam e o f EF A (Exhibi t

C-10) ; an

d interview s wit

h EFA personnel , includin g Paul Masaracchi atogethe r wit h Mr . E l Sayed ; Pau l Masaracchi ab y himself; Davi dDunlop ; Joh n Sesku ; andJohn Zaremb a(Exhibit s C-11 , C-12 , C-26 , C-13 , an dC-14 , respectively) . I t i s anticipate dtha

t Steve n Hal l o f

Clyd e Ai

r Leasin g wil l testif

y a t th e hearin g abou t th e arrangemen t

wit h EF A whereb y th e latte r

wa s th e operato r

o f th e aircraft . I

t i s anticipate dtha

t AS I Misian o will testif y abou t hi s investigatio n whic h ledhi mt o th e conclusio n tha

t EF A operate dth e aircraft . I n §1. 1 o f th e FARs , "operate " i s define da s "caus e to us e or authoriz e t o us e aircraft , fo r th e purpos e o f

. . . air navigation. " A s EF

A authorize dus e o f

th e aircraf

t i n it s capacit y a s afligh

t school , i t operate dth e aircraf

t durin g th e tim e perio di

n question . (2 ) O n Apri l 8 . 2009 . durin g takeof f roll o f th e aircraf

t b y astuden t

pilot , there wa s a vibratio n i

n th e nos e gea

r area . Tha t ther e wa s avibratio n o f th e nos e gea

r are ai s evidence db

y th e statement

o f th e studen t

pilot , Eri c Claros , wh o operate dth e aircraf t durin g th e fligh

t o n April 8 , 2009 , a s well a s astatemen t

fro mEF A mechani c Mr . E

l Sayed , t o who mMr . Claro s reporte dth e incident . Exhibi t C-8 ; Exhibi t

C-15 . I t i s anticipate dtha

t Mr . Claro s will testif

y a s suc h a t th e hearing . (3 ) Th e studen t

pilo t reporte dth e vibratio n tha t h e ha dexperience dt o EFA . Tha t Mr . Claro s reporte dth e vibratio n tha t h e ha dexperience dt o EF

A i s evidence db

y hi s statement , a s wel

l a s th e statemen t

o f EF A mechani c Mr . E

l Sayed , wh o wrot e tha t Mr . Claro s "indicate dt o m e tha t ther e wa s anos e vibratio n upo n landing. " Exhibi t C-8 ; Exhibi t

C-15 . I t i s anticipate dtha

t Mr . Claro s will testif

y a s such a

t th e hearing . (4 ) A t some point

betwee n Apri l 8 . 200 9 an dJun e 1 . 2009 . EF

A re-assemble dth e whee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . Tha t EF A re-assemble dth e wheel assembl y o n th e aircraf t a t some point

betwee n Apri l 8 , 200 9 an

dJun e 1 , 200 9 i s evidence db y (a ) th e fact

tha t Mr . E l Sayed , o n April 8 , 2009 , remove dth e nosewhee l assembl y fo r a n inspectio n but , i

n th e process , injure dhi s thum b before h e complete dth e maintenanc e anddi dnot re-instal l th e nosewhee l assembl y back

o n th e N383C A aircraft ; (b ) interview s tha t AS I Misian o ha

dwit h EF A mechanic s andmanagers , durin g whic h nobody wa s abl e t o tel l himwh o ha dreassemble d th e wheel assembl y o

n th e aircraft ; and(c ) tha t fac t tha t th e aircraf

t wa s abl e to b e flown o n Jun e 1 , 2009 , a s foun

ddurin g AS I Misiano' s investigation , whic h woul dindicat e tha t th e whee l assembl y wa s pu t back a t some point . Exhibi t

C-8 ; Exhibi t

C-16 , Paragraph s 6-7 . ft i s anticipate dthat

AS I Misian o will testif

y a s suc h a

t th e hearing . (5 ) O n Jun e 1 . 2009 . EF

A operate dth e aircraf

t o n aflight t o Republi c Airport . Farmingdale . NY .Tha t aircraf t N383C A wa s operate dt o Republi c Airport o n Jun e 1 , 200 9 wa s foun db y AS I Misian o durin g hi s investigation , andi t i s anticipate dtha

t he will testif

y a s suc h a t th e hearing . Exhibi t

C-16 , Paragrap h 3 . Aircraf t log s reflecte dsuch aflight. Exhibi t C-9 , pag e 2 . Th e evidenc e tha t EF A wa s th e operato r

o f th e aircraf

t o n thi s fligh t i s describe dabove . (6 ) Prio r t o th e Jun e 1 . 200 9 flight, n o lo g entr y wa s mad e o f

th e re-assemblin g o f

th e whee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . Tha t n o lo g entry wa s mad e o f th e re-assemblin g o f

th e whee l assembl y o

n th e aircraf t i s evidence db

y th e observation s o f

AS I Misian o durin g hi s investigation , an db y th e logbook s that

he inspected . AS I Misian o reviewe dal l th e maintenanc e log s fo r th e N383C A aircraf

t durin g th e perio dApril 8 , 200 9 throug h Jun e 1 , 200 9 an dfoun dno recordentr

y o f th e reassembl y o f

th e nosewhee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . Exhibi t C-9 ; Exhibi t C-16 , Paragrap h (8) . Ther e i s a n entr y b y Mr . Masaracchi aindicatin g installatio n o f

th e whee l assembl y andwhic h i s date dMa y 31 , 2009 . Exhibit

C-9 , pag e 1 . Base do n discussion s wit

h EF A personne l an

drevie w o f

th e record s (includin g documentatio n reflectin g shipmen t o f th e part s t o EF

A o n Jun e 3 , 200 9 an

dalo g entr

y b y Mr . Masaracchi adate dJun e 4 , 2009) , however , AS I Misian o conclude dtha t th e replacemen t

o f th e whee l assembl y ha

dactuall y been performe do n Jun e 4 , 2009 , i n reactio n t o th e Jun e 1 , 200 9 incident . Exhibi t C-16 , Paragrap h (12) . I

t i s anticipate dtha

t AS I Misian o will testif

y a s suc h a

t th e hearing . (7 ) Prio r t o th e Jun e 1 . 200 9 flight, th e re-assemblin g o f th e whee l assembl y o n th e aircraf t wa s no t approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b y a

n authorize dperson .Tha t n o approval fo

r retur n t o servic e wa s mad e o f

th e re-assemblin g o f

th e wheel assembl y o n th e aircraf

t i s evidence db

y th e observation s o f

AS I Misian o durin g hi s investigation , andb

y th e logbook s tha

t h e inspected . AS I Misian o reviewe dall th e maintenanc e log s fo

r th e N383C A aircraf

t durin g th e perio dApril 8 , 200 9 throug h Jun e 1 , 200 9 andfoundn o recor dentr y o f approval fo

r retur n t o servic e o f

th e nosewhee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . Exhibi t C-9 ; Exhibi t

C-16 , Paragrap h (8) . I t i s anticipate d tha t AS I Misian o wil l testif

y a s such'at

th e hearing . Whil e ther e wer e approval s fo r retur n t o servic e durin g th e relevan t tim e period , they didnot reflec t actual inspectio n o f

th e whee l assembly , an

dtherefor e coul dnot

hav e reflecte dapproval fo

r servic e o f

th e installatio n o f

th e wheel assembly . Mr . Masaracchi asigne dof

f a s havin g performe da100-hour inspectio n o f

th e N383C A aircraf t o n Apri l 19 , 2009 , utilizin g achecklis t tha t include darequiremen t

t o lif t th e airplan e o n jack s t o inspec t th e wheel assembly . Exhibi t C-9 , p.35-70 , i

n particula

r pag e 48 . Incident

t o a n intervie w o n Jun e 4 , 2009 , AS I Misian o aske dMr . Masaracchi aif h e notice danythin g whe n h e jacke du p th e aircraf

t t o inspec t

th e wheels . Mr . Masaraccha i responde dtha

t h e di dno t

actuall y jac k

up th e aircraf

t t o inspec t

th e wheel assembly . Exhibi t C-16 , Paragrap h 9-10 . Mr . E l Saye dsigne dof

f a s havin g performe da50-hour inspectio n o f

th e N383C A aircraf

t o n Ma y 31 , 2009 , indicatin g tha t he ha d"Lube d aircraft , checke dtire s andbrak e fluid, service dbattery. " Ther e wa s no indication , however , that

h e checke dth e whee l assembl y o f th e aircraft . Exhibi t

C-9 , pag e ! ; Exhibi t C-16 , Paragrap h 11 . I

t i s anticipate dtha

t AS I Misian o will testif

y a t th e hearin g tha

t neithe r th e entr y b y Mr . Masaracchi anor th e entr y b y Mr . E l Saye dconstitute da

napproval fo r retur n t o servic e o f

th e re-assemblin g o f

th e nosewhee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . f8 ) EF A violate dt>91.405rb ) o f

th e FARs . §91.405(b ) o f

th e FAR s states : "Eac h owner o r operato r o f a n aircraft.. . shall ensur e tha

t maintenanc e personne l make appropriat e entrie s i n th e aircraf

t maintenanc e record s indicatin g th e aircraf t ha s been approve dfo

r retur n t o service. " Thus , EFA , a s operato r o f th e aircraft , wa s responsibl e fo r ensurin g tha

t it s maintenanc e personne l make appropriat e entrie s i n th e maintenanc e record s indicatin g th e aircraf t ha s been approve dfo

r return to service . Under §43.9(a)(I)-(4 ) o f

th e FARs , "eac h perso n wh o perform s maintenanc e shal l make a n entr y i n th e maintenanc e recor do f tha t equipment containin g (1 ) adescriptio n o f th e work ; (2 ) th e dat e o f completio n o f

th e work ; (3 ) th e nam e o f th e perso n performin g th e wor k i f othe r tha n th e perso n approvin g th e work ; an d (4 ) if th e wor k performe do n th e aircraf

t ha s bee n performe dsatisfactorily , th e signature , certificat e number , an

dkin do f certificat e heldb

y th e perso n approvin g th e work. " §Sectio n 43.9(a)(4 ) o f

th e FAR s state s tha

t th e signatur e o f

th e perso n approvin g th e wor k "constitute s th e approval fo r retur n to servic e onl y fo

r th e wor k performed. " Thus , eac h maintenanc e tas k

require s alo g entr

y not only identifyin g whic h mechani c di dth e wor k an dwhen , but

als o a n approval fo

r retur n t o servic e i

n th e for mo f asignatur e b

y th e mechanic . I

n thi s case , ther e wa s n o such lo g entry , Th e above-reference dlo g entrie s b y Messrs . Masaracchi aan dE l Saye ddi dno t

satisf y th e requirement s under §91.405(b ) o f

th e FAR s wit

h respec t t o th e re-assembl y o f

th e nosewhee l assembl y tha t occurre dbetwee n Apri l 8 , 200 9 an dJun e 1 , 2009 . Exhibi t

C-16 , Paragrap h (13) . I

t i s anticipate dtha

t AS I Misian o will testif

y a s suc h a

t th e hearing .(.9.)EF A violate d$91.407(a)( n o f th e FARs . §91.407(a ) o f

th e FAR s state s tha

t "N o perso n ma

y operat e an

y aircraf t tha t ha s undergon e maintenance , preventiv e maintenance , rebuilding , o r alteration...unles s i

t ha s been approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b

y aperso n authorize dunde r Sectio n 43. 7 o f

thi s chapter. " A s indicate dabove , EF A operate dth e aircraf

t o n Jun e 1 , 2009 ; maintenanc e ha dbeen performe do n th e aircraf t withi n th e previou s tw o month s (specificall y th e re assembl y o f

the'nosewhee l assembly); " andther e wa s no approval for retur n t o servic e fo

r thi s maintenanc e prio r

t o th e flight. Thus , EF

A violate d§ 91.407(a ) o f th e FARs . (10 ) EF A violate d§91.407fa)f2)ofth e FARs . §91.407(a)(2 ) o f

th e FAR s state s tha

t "N o perso n ma

y operat e an

y aircraf t tha t ha s undergon e maintenance , preventiv e maintenance , rebuilding , o r alteration...unles s th e maintenanc e recor dentr y require db

y §43. 9 or

§43. 1 ] , a s applicable , o f thi s chapte r ha s bee n made. " A s indicate dabove , EF A operate dth e aircraf

t o n Jun e 1 , 2009 ; maintenanc e ha

dbee n performe do

n th e aircraf

t withi n th e previou s tw o month s (specifically , th e re-assembl y o f th e nosewhee l assembly) ; andther e wa s no maintenanc e recordentr

y fo r thi s maintenanc e a s require db y §43. 9 o f

th e FARs . Thus , EF

A violate d §91.407(a)(2)oftheFARs . ( 1 OEF A violate d§91.7(a ) o f

th e FARs . §91.7(a ) o f

th e FAR s state s tha

t "n o perso n ma

y operat e acivi l aircraf

t unles s i t i s i n a n airworth y condition. " T o b e determine dairworthy , a n aircraf t traditionall y ha s been require dt o meet

atwo-pronge dtest : th e aircraf t (1 ) mus t confor mt o it s typ e certificate , i f

anda s tha

t certificat e ha s been modifie db y supplementa l typ e certificate s an db y Airworthines s Directives ; and(2 ) mus t b e i n conditio n fo

r saf e operation .DOT/FA A Lega l Interpretation , Exhibi t C-17 . Thi s tes t

i s foun di n 4 9 US C §44709 , whic h provides : "Th e Administrato r shal l issu e a n airworthines s certificat e whe n th e Administrato r

finds tha t

th e aircraf

t conform s t o it s typ e certificat e and , afte r inspection , i s i n conditio n fo r

saf e operatio n (emphasi s supplied). " I n othe r words , fo r

an aircraf

t t o b e airworthy , i

t mus t b e determine dafte r

inspectio n t o b e saf

e fo r flight. I f

arequire d inspectio n i s no t

performed , the n th e aircraf t canno t b e determine dt o b e saf e fo r flight. I n this'cas'e, " EF A performe dare-assembl y o f th e nosewhee l o n th e aircraft , bu t ther e wa s n o approva l fo r

retur n t o servic e fo r

thi s maintenance . Thus , ther e presumabl y wa s n o inspectio n t o determin e whethe r th e installatio n wa s don e properly . Thus , i t canno t b e sai dtha t th e aircraf

t wa s saf e fo r flight and , base do n 4 9 US C §44709 , wher e an aircraf t ha s no t bee n inspecte dsuc h a s t o determin e it s safet y fo r flight, it canno t b e grante dan airworthines s certificate , i.e, . i t i s no t airworthy . Thus , b y virtu e o f th e fac t tha t EF A operate dth e aircraf

t withou t a n approva l fo r

retur n t o servic e o f

th e maintenance , it operate dth e aircraf

t i n a n unairworth y conditio n i n violatio n o f

§91.7(a ) o f

th e FARs . (12) A civi l penalt v o f

$15.30 0 i s appropriate . EF A i s asmal l busines s concer n tha t doe s no t hol dacertificate , an dth e violation s wer e covere dunde r

4 9 US C §46301(a)(5)(A).' * Th e rang e o f civi l penalt y sanction s fo r suc h an entit y unde r

FA A Orde r

2150.3 B ca n b e minimu m($550-$2,199) , moderat e ($2,200-54,399) , o r

maximu m($4,400- $ 11,000) . Exhibi t C-18 . Fo r purpose s o f

th e Sanctio n Guidanc e Tabl e (SGT ) i n FA A Orde r 2150.3B , EF A fall s unde r

th e categor y o f

"Individual s an dGenera l Aviatio n - Owners , Pilots , Repai r Stations , Pilo t

School s an dMaintenanc e Personnel. " Exhibi t C-19 . I n thi s case , ther e

' Coverngeoflliisslalutc include s 4 9 USC §44701 . wliic h empower

s th e FA A lo prescrib e regulation s pcnaining t

o lli e safel y o f fliglu .wa s a"failur e t o mak e prope r entr y i n aircraf t log " i n tw o respects : th e failure t o mak e th e lo g entr

y describin g th e work , etc. , an dth e failure t o mak

e a n entry approvin g th e aircraf t fo r return t o service . Th e SG T call s fo r a"Minimu mt o Moderate " civi l penalty . Id . Th e circumstance s her e wer e aggravatin g i n that not only wer e th e entrie s were not made , but i t coul dno t even b e determine dwhic h individual s o r individual s actuall y di d th e maintenance . Thus , ahigh-moderat e civi l penalt y o f $4,39 9 i s appropriat e fo

r each o f thes e violations(tota l = $8,798) . Ther e wa s als o aviolatio n o f "Operation.o f

unairworth y aircraft, " fo

r whic h th e SG T recommend s acivi l penalt y o f "moderat e t o maximum. " Id . Becaus e o f

th e aggravatin g circumstance s describe dabove , ahigh-maximu mcivi l penalt y o f $11,00 0 i s appropriate . Thus , atotal civi l penah y o f $19,79 8 ($8,79 8 plu s $ 11,000 ) i s appropriate . A civi l penalt y o f $ 15,300 , a s i s propose dher e b y th e Agency , i s certainl y appropriate . WHEREFOR E th e Agenc y request s tha t th e AL J issu e a n Orde r assessin g acivi l penalt

y of$15,300 . ALFRE D R . JOHNSON , JR . REGIONA L COUNSE L

By : Zachar

y Attorne y Offic e o f th e Eastern Regiona

l Counse l (FAA ) 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , N

Y 1143 4 Phone : (718)553-325 8 Telefax : (718)995-569 9

1 2

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CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E

I hereb y certif y tha t a cop y o f th e foregoin g Agency' s Witness/Exhibi t Lis t ha s bee n sen t o n thi s dat e vi a firs t class mai l an d facsimil e to : Th e Honorabl e J.E . Sullivan , Administrativ e La w Judg e Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 U.S . Departmen t o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Washington , D C 2059 0 Telefax : 202-366-753 6 Joh n Zaremb a President , Empir e Fligh t Academ y Republi c Airport , Rout e 10 9 Hanga r3 Farmingdale , N Y 1173 5 Telefax : 631-694-017 2 I hereb y certif y tha t a cop y o f th e foregoin g Agency' s Witness/Exhibi t Lis t ha s bee n sen t o n thi s dat e vi a firs t class mai l to : Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Attn : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu rWrigh t Buildin g - Suit e 2W1000 0

Date : MA R 1 3 201 2 ^/! ^ Hook s Paralega l Specialis t 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , N Y 114 3



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