.. OMS 

### III 003/008 

### FAA 04/14/2010 10:15 FAX 2024935142

Y<i/V.c./"::V.LV**v!S:~~** /:,'AA. 415 '2.'2.7 1007 ANM-7**~003**

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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 OFAMERICA 

## J)EPARTMENT OF 

## TRANSPORTA

## TTON 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 ofPractice (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 CertificateNo. SWlAOI )A, and conducts 

### it::; operations per 

### FARPart 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

1 :2 3

6 7 S 9 10 n 12 13 14 l.!.i 16' \7 18 l.$)

21 :22 23 21 25 46 27

29 30 3'[ 32 33 34 35 36 3<7 38 j9 '.II) 41 42 43 14 45 46 4 'I 413 49 50 Sl 3. The SkyWesl GMM incorporales 

### byreference 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 theright. rnalll111nding gear failed torctract until 

### the third 

### <tttempt.
6. Mainlenancepel'soll.rlcl replaced the right main landing gear up-lock wire hamcss.


### 7. On January20,2009, 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 onjacks bul could not replicate the discrepancy,
9. On February 21,2009, the pilot ofN579SW reported an unsafe landing gear indication after selectingthe landing gear lever in the up position. The pilot cycled the gearthree times afterwhich the landing gear indication was nonna!.
10. SkyWestpersonnel adjusted the \'ight main landing gear up-lock pl'Ox.imity switches, tht:n removed and replaced the main landing gearhandle assembly.


### 11. On February 25, 2009, the pilot ofN579SW reported upon arrivlllg <.It POltland, Oregon, that theright main landing gear would not re"tract. The crew reported cycling the**]~Illding;** geaf three (3) times and held the landing gearretraction handle in lhe up position for over a mh\utc before the landing gear

### fully retracted.
12. 

### 011 Of 

### about February25,2009, at ornear 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 companymechanic affixoo their inilials and employee numberon N597SW's maiIltcnancc log, theycertified 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 EmbraerMaintenanceManual, section 32··32-09, paragraph C(O) retluired the usc ofa hydraulic hand pump to verify the correct inst:lllation and operation ofthe 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**~005 V~/V~/~V~U** **vO:~D** rhA 4;:::.,**~"I** 10U7 ANM··7

,), 2 3 4 

### s 6 7 8 9 10 ],1 :1:'< 13 H lS 1(, 17 HI 19 20 21**~2'** 23 ::.l4 25 26 

### n 213 29 30 3,), 32 3:) 34 :#5 3(; 37 36 .'lSI 40 4:1. 42 43 4'1 45 1G**~** ./ '18 49 so $1 5'4 !:>3 

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

### velificatioll ofoperation and clearances ofthe up-lock hook and the 

### l'oller mecbanism.


### 17. A hydraulic hand pump was not available Drnot 

### usedby 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 hadpcrfonned 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 SkyWestMaintenance 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' oftheup-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. 

### OnFebruary 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. OnFeblUary 27,2009, SkyWest 

### condi.lcted a forry 

### tlighl from Spokane, Washington to Portland, 

### Oregon,


### 27. 

### In Portland, Oregon, SkyWestpersonnel 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 F

A'" v, SkyWc:.<;r**Air'inc~** 2009NM060048 TEL: 425,2.27.1417: FAX: 112.5.217.1007 PII[;C 4 of7.. DMS 141 008/008 FAA 04/14/2010 10:18 FAX 2024935142 

### III 006

v't/U':'I"U1U Ul!I;;'l:) l''A.l**4~5** 227 1007 ANM 7

:l. ;;. 3 <'1 !S G 7 8 9 1(1 11 12 13 l.

.. 15 16 17 16 19 20 21 

### '-Z 23 24 25 '.." :U :28 29 30 

### :n 32 3j 34 3S ]6 37 :lti 39 40 41 1:), '13 44 111.


### 1. By reason ofthe foregoing facts al1d circumstances, SkyWestviohtled 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 ofal1 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 wereperformedbuthad not executetl the required certification that the work wasperfonnedperthe requiremenis Qfthccerlitlcate holder's manual.
Section 121,709(b

### )(2)(iv), in that 

### it operated an aircraft aftermaintenance**w~s** pcrfonned whon the airworthiness release orlog 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) ofTitlo49 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 ofLhe violations noted.


### 3. Under the facts and circumstances ofthis ca.<;e, a civil pel1ultyof$182, 500 is appropriate.
WHERBFORE, the Agency, bycounsel, respectfully requests that the 

### AdminiS1Tati,vC

Law Judge enter an order that SkyWcst be assessed a 

### civil penalty ill the amount 01'$182,500.

4.(1 49 51) 51 52 o:;:a

COMPLAINT SC('lTr R MORRIs. FAA AfT()R'NffY FAA v, Sk:yWc:st Airlines 2009NM0600.48 TIL; 425.227.1417; FAX: IIZS.227.I007**~:lge** 5 of?141 001/008**~** DMS 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 ofeach alkgation 6 

### contained in the Complaint [14.CF.R. 

### 13.20Y(f)]. ? 

### e 9 10 11 12 13 14 l.S 16 17 HI**l~** :.\0 :2l 22 23 2.'1 :;'5 26 "J7 28 ZS1 30 

### :.n 32 33 34

36 

### n 3A 39 (\0 41 4:2 43 4·1 45 .46 -4 ., 48 49 50 5J. 52 53

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**

1 2 J 4 5 C



### .., B 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 :U5 11 le 19 20 21 .2/. ;23

25 

### '-6 2'J 28 29 30 31

33 34 

## ,!:)
36 37 30 3.9 40 41 42 1\**:~** 44­ 4S 16 ;1.7 48**~9** SO 51**5~** 53 

### 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 

### WilburWright 

### 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 ofApril, 2010.



### MOIFAIR CHIN .---­ Office 

### ofRegional 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 t':!ll?-c 7 or7