03/02/201 0 10:5 7 FA X 202493514 2 FA A * DM S gjOOI/Ol O 

# < d U.S . Departmen t Easter n Re g o n 1 Aviatio n Plaz a o f Transportatio n Regiona l Counse l Jamaica , N Y 1143 4 Telephone : 71 8 563-326 8 Federa l Aviatio n Facsimile : 71 8 995-569 9 Administratio n Fc 2 1 6 20?

0 CERTIFIE D MATT

. - RETUR M RECEIP T RHOLTESTE D *' ^ ^

- ..- : •^, , ^ ^ tcdera l Aviatio n AdiTimistralion •;.:;,, , • ? • 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . „ --^•.r.- ' Washington , IXC . 2059 1 . ^ ••-^2j2Cf ' Attn ; Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC-43 0 H.?... . = • . . .-:- . .,.. , ,. ^^^^ ^ Wilbu r Wright Building-Roo m201 4 ' •'''••-'•'••t : C AITN : HEARINGDOCKEl ' CLERK Re : In th e Matter

o f Empir e Airway s • 'tdtlkh ^ Docke t No . 2009EA11003 9 H^ ' nj^ ^ Enclose dherei n plea.s e fin dalcop y ol areques t

fo r hearingjan dth e origina

l andon e cop y ol " th e FAA' s Compiain l in the above-entitle dactio n fo r filing, together

wit h proof " o f .servic e upo n th e Respondent . Th e I'AA request s tha

t tli e hearin g i n thi s matte

r b e hel di n th e Centra

l Isiip , Ne w Yor k area , an dexpect s that

th e hearin g wil l las t

on e day . Pleas e addres. s al

l contununication s fo

r th e Federa

l Aviatio n Administratio n t o th e altenlio n o f

Zachar y M . Berman , Offic e o f

tli e Regiona

l Counsel , 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , N

Y 11434 . Sincerely , Alfred R . Johnson , Jr . Regiona l Counse l By : Zachar

y ff4. I^rma n Attorne y Enclosure s* DM S 121002/01 0 03/02/201 0 10:5 7 FA X 202493514 2 FA A

U.S . DEPARTMEN

T O F TRANSPORTAllO N FEDERAL AVIATIO N ADMINIS'fRATIO N

OFFIC E O

F HEARING S WASHINGTON , D.C . I n th e Matte

r o f Empir e Airway s 2009EA11003 9 Judg e Not Assigne d

COMPLAINT Th e Federal Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA) , b y counsel , hereb y file s it s Complaint , pursuan t t o Rul e 20 8 of

ih e Rule s o f

Practic e (1 4 C.F.R . 13.208) , andslate s a m follows : I Respondent , Empir

e Airways , wa s advise dthroug h aFinal Notic e o f Propose dCivi l Penalt y tha t th e FA A propose dto asses s acivi l penalt y in th e amoun

t o f $20,000 . O n Febmar y 16 , 2010 , Respondent

submitte dawritte n demandfo r ahearing . I I 1 . A t all time. s relevan t

herein , Empire Aiivvay s wa s th e operato r o f a Diamon dDA-2 0 aircraft , identificatio n number N383C A (hereinafte r

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

abou t Apri l 8 , 2009 , durin g takeof f roi l o f th e aircraf

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

r area . 3 . Th e studen t

pilo t reporte dthe vibratio n tha t h e hadexperience dt o Empire Airways .r^ A + nM< ; i?l003/01 0 03/02/201 0 10:5 7 FA X 202493514 2 FA A * DM ^ ^ '

4 . A t som e point

betwee n Apri l 8 , 200 9 an dJun e 1 , 2009 , Empire Ain\'ay s re-assemble dthe wheel assembly o n th e aircraft . 5 . N o lo g entr

y wa s ever

mad e o f th e re-assemblin g o f

th e whee l assembl y o n th e aircraft . 6 . Th e rc-assemblin g o f th e whee l assembl y on th e aircraf t wa s no t approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b

y a n authorize dperson . 7 . Th e re-assembl y o f th e whee l assembl y o f th e aircraf

t wa s no t performe dproperly . 8 . A s aresult , th e aircraf t v^ra s involve di n a

n incident upo n landin g a

t Republi c Airport , Farmingdale , NY , on Jun e 1 , 2009 . 9 . Specifically , upo n tax i roll-out , th e aircraf t los t th e axe l nut

o n th e nos e gear wheel assembly , causin g th e axe l t o fal l ol T on e for k an d cockin g th e nos e whee l in th e for k 10 . Thi s cause dth e aircraf t t o vibrate . Th e pilo t

wa s n o longer

abl e t o taxi th e aircraft , an dth e aircraf t ha dt o b e towe dof

f th e runway . 11 . Empire Airway s thu s perlbmie dmaintenanc e o n a n aircraf t an dfailed t o us e th e methods , techniques , andpractice s prescribe di n th e current manufacturer' s maintenanc e manua l o r Instruction s fo

r Continue d Airworthines s prepare db y it s manufacturer , or

other methods , techniques , andpractice s acceptabl e t o th e Administrator . 12 . Empir

e Airway s thu s maintaine da n aircraf t an dfaile dt

o do tha t wor k in suc h amanner

an dus e material s o f

suc h aquality , tha

t th e conditio n o f th e aircraf

t worke do n vi^oul

da t leas t equa l t o it s origina

l o r properl y altere dcondition . 13 . Empir

e Airway s thu s operate dth e aircraf t in a n unairworthy conditio n on Jun e 1,2009 .

IT T03/02/201 0 10:5 8 FA X 202493514 2 FA A^ DM S Ii004/01 0

B y reaso n o f

th e foregoin g faci s andcircumstances , Respondent violate dih e followin g section(s ) o f

th e Federal Aviatio n Regulations ; a . Sectio n 43.13(a) , which state s tha t eac h perso n performin g maintenance , alteration , or preventiv e maintenanc e o n a n aircraft , engine , propeller , o r

applianc e shal l us e th e methods , techniques , an d practice s prescribe di

n th e current

manufacturer' s maintenanc e manua l or Instruction s fo

r Continue dAirworthines s prepare dby it s manufacturer , or

other methods , techniques , andpractice s acceptabl e t o th e Administrator , excep t a s note di n §43.16 . H e shal l us e th e tools , equipment , andtes t

apparatu s necessar

y t o assur e completio n o f

th e wor k i n accordanc e wit

h accepte dindustr

y practices . I f

specia l equipment o r tes t apparatu s i s recommende dby th e manufacturer involved , h e mus t

us e tha t equipment

o r apparatu s o r

it s equivalen t acceptabl e t

o tli e Administrator . b . Sectio n 43.13(b) , whic h state s tha t eac h perso n maintainin g o r altering , o r

perfonnin g preventiv e maintenance , shal l d o tha t wor k i n suc h amanne r

andus e material s o f

such aquality , tha

t th e conditio n o f th e aircraft , airframe , aircraf t engine , propeller , o r

applianc e worke d o n wil l b e a

t leas t equal t o it s origina

l or properly altere dconditio n03/02/201 0 10:5 8 FA X 202493514 2 FA A • > DM S 12005/01 0

(wit h regar dto aerodynami c function , structura l strength , resistanc e t

o vibratio n an ddeterioration , an dother qualitie s affectin g airworthiness) . Sectio n 91,405(a) , whic h state s tha t eac h owne

r o r operato r o f a n aircraf t shal l hav e tha

t aircraf t inspecte da s require db

y Subpar t H o f Par t 9 1 o f the Federa

l Aviatio n Regulation s an dshal l between require dinspection s (excep t a s otherwis e provided ) hav e discrepancie s repaire di n accordanc e wit h Par t 4 3 o f th e Federa

l Aviatio n Regulations . Sectio n 91.407(a)(1) , whic h state s tha t n o perso n ma

y operate a

n aircraf t that ha s undergon e maintenance , preventiv e maintenance , rebuilding , o r

alteratio n unles s i

t ha s bee n approve dfo

r retur n t o servic e b y aperso n authorize dunder Sectio n 43. 7 o f

th e Federa

l Aviatio n Regulations . Sectio n 91.4 0 7(a)(2) , whic h state s tha t n o perso n ma

y operate a

n aircraf t tha t ha s undergon e maintenance , preventiv e maintenance , rebuilding , o r

alteratio n unles s th e maintenanc e recordentr y require d03/02/201 0 10:5 8 FA X 202493514 2 FA A - DM S 0006/01 0

b y Section s 43. 9 or

43.11 , a s applicable , o f th e Federa

l Aviatio n Regulation s ha s bee

n made . f . Sectio n 91.7(a) , which .state s tha t n o perso n ma

y operate acivi l aircraf

t unles s i t i s i n a n airworthy condition .

I V

1 . Pursuant

to 4 9 U.S.C . §46301(a)(l) . Respondent i s subjec t t o acivi l penalt

y not to excee d$25,00 0 fo

r eac h o f th e violation s alleged , or , fo r asmal l busines s concern , pursuan t t o 4 9 T.J.S.C . §46301(a)(5) , Respondent i s .subjec t t o acivi l penalt

y no t t o excee d$11,00 0 fo

r eac h o f th e violation s alleged . 2 . Under th e fact s an dcircumstance s o f thi s case , acivi l penalt

y o f $20,00 0 i s appropriate .* DM S gl007/01 0 03/02/201 0 10:5 8 FA X 202493514 2 FA A

WHEREFORE , th e FAA , b y counsel , respectftill y request s tha t th e Administrativ e La

w Judg e enter

a n order tha t Responden t

b e assesse dacivi l penalt

y i n th e amount

o f $20,000 . Respectfiill y .submitted , Alfi-e dR . John.son , Jr . Regional Counse l

By : 

# M/^Itt^ ^ Zachai ^ M/Berma n Attorney Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , N Y 1143 4 71 8 553-325 8 71 8 995-569 9 NOTE : Th e Rule s o f

Practic e fo r

thi s proceedin g ar e se t fort h i n Par t 13 , Subpar t G , o f th e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s (1 4 C.F.R . Par t 13) . Th e Rule s o f

Practic e provid e tha t

Responden t

mus t fil e awritte n answe r t o thi s Complaint , o r

awritte n Motio n t o Dismis s i f appropriate , no t late r tha n 3 0 day s afte r

th e dat e show n o n th e Certificat e o f Service . A genera l denia l i s deeme dafailur e t o fil e a n answe r (Sectio n 13.209(e)) .03/02/201 0 10:5 8 FAX 202493514 2 FA A• > DM S 1^008/01 0

CERTIFICATE O F SERVICE 1 hereby certif

y tha t th e foregoin g Complain

t ha s bee n place dthi s date i

n th e Unite d State s mail , postag e prepaid , b y Certifie dMail - Retur n Receip t Requeste daddresse d a s follows ; Charle s J . Casolaro , Esq . Casolar o Sussman , LL P 105 0 Frankli n Avenue , Suite 40 2 Garde n City , N Y 1153 0 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (Origina l an done copy ) 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D.C . 2059 1 Attn : Hearing Docke t

Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Buildin g - Roo m201 4

Date:^li_L^ . ^O

W _ _Tac^.^...^. ^ (^^JL>^

-

Mariann aPerero Paralega l Specialis t Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Offic e o f Regional Counse l 1 Aviatio n Plaz a .Tamaica , N Y 1143 403/02/201 0 10:5 8 FA X 202493514 2 FA A+ DM S 1^009/01 0

U.S . DEPARTMEN

T O F TRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N OFFIC E O

F HEARING S WASHTNGFON , D.C . ^- ^ 

### '•-^ ^ 2 3 2fi f ! ^ , : ?

T ' I n th e Matter

o f Empire Airway s 2009EA11003 9 Judg e No t Assigne d N O I IC E O F APPEARANC E Complainant , Federa

l Aviatio n Administration , hereb y notifie s the Unite dState s Department

o f Transportation , Offic e o f Hearings , andth e Respondent , pursuiin t t o 1 4 C.F.R . § 13.204(b) , tha

t i t shall b e represente din th e above-state dactio n by th e tbllowin g attorney ; Zachar

y M . Berma

n Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Offic e o f Regiona l Counse l 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , NY 1143 4 Telephone : 71 8 553-325 8 Facsimile : 71 8 995-569 9 Al l communications , notices , pleading s o r document s ar

e respectfijll

y requeste dt o b e forwarde da s follows :

Zachar y M . Berman Federa l Aviatio n Adminislxatio n Offic e o f Regiona l Counsel 1 Aviatio n Plaz a03/02/201 0 10:5 8 FA X 202493514 2 FA A + QM S gjOIO/Ol O

Jamaica , NY 1143 4 Telephone ; 71 8 553-325 8 Facsimile : 71 8 995-569 9 Respectfully submitted , Alfre dR . Jolmson , Jr . Regiona l Counse l 

# VA>/ O By : gwriMlg^ ^ Dated: _ ZacharyMv/^erma

n Attorney CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E 1 hereb y certif

y tlia t o n thi s da y copie s o f

th e foregoin g Notic e o f

Appearanc e wer

e place d i n th e LInite

dStale s mail , postag e prepaid . Certifie dMai l - Retur n Receip t Requeste d addresse d a s follows : Charle s J . Casolaro , Esq . Casolar o Sussman , LL P 105 0 Frankli n Avenue , Suit e 40 2 Garden City , N Y 1153 0 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (Origina l an don e copy ) 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D.C . 2059 1 Attn ; Hearin g Docket

Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Buildin g - Roo m201 4

„ , FE B 1 6 201 0 ^ jjaie : h^.^^^^,^ t s^i^^ ^ Mariann aPerero Paralega l Specialis t Office o f Regiona l Counsel ] Aviatio n Plaj a Jamaica , N Y 1143 4