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SeonR. MORRIS 

FAA OrrrcF" OF RBGIONAL COUNS/:,:t 

160] LIND AVE., SW 

RENTON, WASHINGTON 98057 

TELEPHONE: 425.227,1417 

FACSIMTLE: 42S.227.I007 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


J)EPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATTON 


OFFICE OF HEARINGS 


WASHINGTON, D.C. 


In the Matter of: 

FAA DOCKET CP 

SkyWest Airlines FAA Case No. 2009NJ\.1060048 

Judge Unassigned 

--"­ '---'---'--­

JUDGE NOT ASSIGNED: 


The Federal Aviation Aoministration (FAA), by coul1sel, hereby files its Co ll),plaint, 

pursuant to Rule 208 ofthe Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. 13.208). and states as tollow:=:;: 

1. 

On March 26, 2010, SkyWcstAirlines, was advised through a nmll Notice ofProposed 

Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount of$182,500. On 

March 29, 2010, SkyWcst, through its legal counsel, submitted a written request for a hearing. 

n. 

L 	 SkyWcst Airlines (hereafter ::-;kyWesl) is now, and was at alt times matc1'ial hereto th<.: 

holder ofScheduled Air Carrier Certificate No. SWlAO I ) A, and conducts it::; operations 

per FAR Part 121. 

2. 	 Section 0072 of SkyWest's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) requires It to maintain 

its aircraft in accordance with its Contill.uous Airwolthincss Maintenance ~rog(al11 

(CAMP). which includes The prOVisions ofthc its Gen,eral Mainlemmcc Manual (GMM). 

COMPLAINT sc:o'li' R. MOKRt~. FAA. A1"!'ORN1"Y 

FAA v. SkyWCSl Airlines 20()9NM060048 n~L: 425,127,1417; pAX' "25,227,1 (1)7 

hge2of7 
-+ OMS 	 III 004/008

04/14/2010 10:18 FAX. 2024935142 FAA 

III 004 U*/V.I.V~V U~:b~ ~AA 4Z5 227 10Q7 ANM-7 


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3. 	 The SkyWesl GMM incorporales by reference the Embl'aer EMH 120 Maintenance m1d 

Inspcctioll Program as welt as the Emhratr 120 Maintenance Manual. 

4. 	 SkyWest OpSpec DORS authori7.es it to usc N579SW, an Embracr EM13-120wER civil 

aircraft, in the conduct ofits Part 121 operations. 

5. 	 On January 18,2009, the pilot ofN579SW repol·tcd that the right. rnalll111nding gear 

failed torctract until the third <tttempt. 

6. 	 Mainlenance pel'soll.rlcl replaced the right main landing gear up-lock wire hamcss. 

7. 	 On January 20,2009, the pilot ofN579SW reported that, after selectillg the lalldi:.1g gear 

Icwr to the up position, the right niain l.mding gear door did not close, and after cycling 

the landing gear the retraction was nonnal. 

8. 	 SkyWcst mechanics placed N579SW on jacks bul could not replicate the discrepancy, 

9. 	 On February 21,2009, the pilot ofN579SW reported an unsafe landing gear indication 

after selecting the landing gear lever in the up position. The pilot cycled the gear three 

times after which the landing gear indication was nonna!. 

10. 	 SkyWest personnel adjusted the \'ight main landing gear up-lock pl'Ox.imity switches, tht:n 

removed and replaced the main landing gear handle assembly. 

11. 	 On February 25, 2009, the pilot ofN579SW reported upon arrivlllg <.It POltland, Oregon, 

that the right main landing gear would not re"tract. The crew reported cycling the ]~Illding; 

geaf three (3) times and held the landing gear retraction handle in lhe up position for over 

a mh\utc before the landing gear fully retracted. 

12. 	 011 Of about February 25,2009, at or near Portland, Oregon. Sh-yWest employees 

p~rforOlct.l maintenaJ1ce on N579Sw and executed an airworthiness relc~l!)l;). 

13. 	 Specifically, the SkyWest employees removed amI replaced the righl main landing gcar 

up-lock actuator cllld then made an aircraft maintenance log entl)' stating such. 

14. 	 On or about Febru~ry 25,2009, when a company mechanic affixoo their inilials and 

employee number on N597SW's maiIltcnancc log, they certified that no known condition 

existed that made the aircraft unairworthy and that they foHowed the procedures set forth 

1t1 SkyWesL's maintenance manua.1s. 

15. 	 To perfonn this maintenance, the EmbraerMaintenance Manual, section 32··32-09, 

paragraph C(O) retluired the usc of a hydraulic hand pump to verify the correct inst:lllation 

and operation of the up-lock hook and actuator assembly. 

COMPLAINT 	 SCOTT R, M()lUU:;, FAA A'ITOl'.l'lW 

FAA v. SkyWe~1 Ajrline~ 2009NMOM048 	 TEL! 425.227.14.17; FII.X: jj.25.<~Z7.1 007 

Page 3 on 

53 
.. OMS 	 005/008

04/14/2010 10:16 FAX 2024935142 FAA 	

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16. 	 The hydraulic hand pump is used to retract lhe individual lal1.ding gear and facilitate 


velificatioll of operation and clearances of the up-lock hook and the l'oller mecbanism. 


17. 	 A hydraulic hand pump was not available Dr not used by SkyWest personnel in. 


.performing this maintenance. 


lR. 	 The failul'c to perform all ofthe required maintenance tasks and use the equipment 

required as set forth inlhe Embraer Maintenanoe Manual rendered fhe aircraft 

unairw011hy. 

19. 	 On the moming ofFeblUary 26,2009, shortly after the SkyW;::::st mechanic:; hao n~place(J 

the right main landing gear up-lock actuator to N579SW. they became COllcemed about 

lhc maintenance they had pcrfonned because another aircraft's landh1g gear up-lock 

actuator and up-lock hook operated differently (freely) when compared to the up-'Iock 

hook installed 011 N579SW. 

20. 	 A SkyWest Maintenance Supervisor al Portland, Oregoll, contacted SkyWest's EMB-120 

Fleel Coordinator aud relayed his concerns about the airworthiness ofN579SW. 

21- Specifically, he stated that he was concerned that lhere were going to be on-going tanding 

gear problems due to the conditiol' ofthe up-lock book mecha.nism and the aircra1l 

needed immediate ~valuation and maintenance actions tv the correct the problem. 

22. 	 The Fleel Coordinator did not act upon this infQrmation. 

23. 	 On Febntary 26, 2009, SkyWest dispatched and operated N579SW on eight (8) flights, 

terminating at Spokalle, Washington, 

24. 	 On February 27,2009. SkyWest dispatched and operated N579SW where it depa11ed 

Spokane, Washington. 

25. 	 Following thl;!: departure, the right main landing g<:ar would no~ retract and after the crew 

cycled the gear three (3) times with no Sllccess, N579SW returned to Spokane, 

Washington with the landing gear extended. 

26. 	 On FeblUary 27,2009, SkyWest condi.lcted a forry tlighl from Spokane, Washington to 

Portland, Oregon, 

27. 	 In Portland, Oregon, SkyWest personnel removed and replaced the right majn landing 

gear drag and locking strut. 

28, 	 During this maintenance, SkyWest personnel dctennined that the up~lock hook hOld flcized 

on the drag and locking strut assembly, 

COMPLAINT S("'OTT I<.. M()RIUS, FAA Al'l'(,RNF.Y 

FA'" v, SkyWc:.<;r Air'inc~ 2009NM060048 TEL: 425,2.27.1417: FAX: 112.5.217.1007 

PII[;C 4 of7 
.. DMS 	 141 008/008

04/14/2010 10:18 FAX 2024935142 FAA

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111. 

1. By reason ofthe foregoing facts al1d circumstances, SkyWest viohtled the 

following sections ofLhe Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR): 

a. 	 Section 119 .5(g), in that, as a direct air carrier, it operated in violation of al1 

appropriate operations specification. 

b. 	 Section 119.5(1), in that it operated an aircraft in violation ofits operations 

specifications. 

c. 	 Section 121.153(a)(2» in that it operated, 011 nine (9) occasions, an aircraft when it 

was not in an airworthy condition, 

d. 	 Section 121.605, when it dispatched an aircraft under FAR P.u1 121 when it was 

unairvvorthy. 

e. 	 Section. 121. 709(b)(2)(i» in that it operated an aircraft after mailllenanc¢, preventiv(; 

maintenance or altercltions were performed but had not executetl the required 

certification that the work was perfonned per the requiremenis Qfthc cerlitlcate 

holder's manual. 

Section 121,709(b)(2)(iv), in that it operated an aircraft after maintenance w~s 

pcrfonned whon the airworthiness release or log entry did not include a certif'icatii.m 

that no known condition exists that would make the airplane unairworthy. 

2. In accordance with Section 46301 (a) and Cd) ofTitlo 49 of1he United Slates Code 

(Transportation) [49 U.s.C. § 46301 (a) and (d)], SkyWest is liable for a civil penalty notto 

exceed $25,000 for each of Lhe violations noted. 

3. Under the facts and circumstances ofthis ca.<;e, a civil pel1ultyof$182, 500 is 

appropriate. 

WHERBFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests that the AdminiS1Tati,vC 

Law Judge enter an order that SkyWcst be assessed a civil penalty ill the amount 01'$182,500. 

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COMPLAINT SC('lTr R MORRIs. FAA A fT()R'NffY 


FAA v, Sk:yWc:st Airlines 2009NM0600.48 TIL; 425.227.1417; FAX: IIZS.227.I007 


~:lge 5 of? 
~ DMS 141 001/008 FAA 04/14/2010 10:16 FAX 2024935142 ~OQ7 V,,! V,C./ '::111\,1 Vl!!; ~l$ l'A.! 425 227 1007 ANM· 7 

ANSWfm, 1 

3 111 accordance with Section 13.209 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations, SkyWesi, mUlIt answer 

<;1 this Complaint not'later than 30 days from the time it is served on it. Failure to file an .AJ1swcr 

5 within 30 days without good cause shall be deemed an admission () f the truth of each alkgation 

6 contained in the Complaint [14.CF.R. 13.20Y(f)]. 

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COMpLAIN"r SCOTT R, MORRlI>, rAA A'rrORNIN 

¥AA v. SkyWest Airlines 2009NM060Q48 TEI.: 425,227,1417; F),X; 425.227.IO()7 

Pi.1ge6 on 
I4J 008/008 FAA 04/14/2010 10:18. FAX 2024[35142 u.'V~/~VIV v~:~o rAA 4Z6 ZZ7 1007 AN.trf'!.7 ~008 

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CERTIF]CATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certift that the foregoing Complaint ha~ been served via fa.csimile and certified mail ­

Return Receipl RGguestcd this d ..~te, to tbe following: 

Federal Aviation Administratioll 


800 lndcpendence Avenue SW 


Washington, D.C 20591 


/\.ltn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 


Wilbur Wright Bui1ding • Suite 2WIOOO 


fiax: 202. 493,5142 


Michael L. Dworkin 


465 Califomia Street, Suite 210 


83.n Francisco, CA 94104·1808 

TEL: 405.421.2500 

FAX: 405.954.4676 

Dated this 2nd day of April, 2010. 

MOIFAIR CHIN .---­


Office of Regional Counsel (AN'M-7) 


Federal Aviation Adlllinistration 


1601 Liod Ave. SW 


Renton, W A 98057 


425,227.2160 


COMPLAINT SCOTT R. M{)R.R1S, FAI\ A',O"RI'WY 


T;AA v. SkyWest Alrlil\dR 2009NM(l(iOO4$ TEl.: 425.2.27.1417; 1:',.1,,;'(; 42;,.227. 1001 


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