U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration July 31, 2013 Northwest Mountain Region

. Office of Regional Counsel Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming 1601 Lind Avenue-S.\A.d > ' •.•·, Renton,**Washingtori.~B:'o5?::**

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· Tel: (425) 227-1417::·,-

Fax:. (425) 227-foM· '

. robert.spitzer@faa.gov**?~.~** i**~!.** 

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VIA FACSIMILE AND CERTIFIED MAlL- RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED · __., 

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# RECEIVED Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Hearing Docket Federal Aviation Administration (Wilbur Wright Bldg

-- Room 2W1000) 800 Independe11ce Avenue S.W. 

## AUG ... 52013 

# HEARING DOCKET Washington, D.C. 20591 · · . . 

# fQ.mS a-c13;Oiol'l Re: IntheMatter ofSkyWestAirlines,FAA Case No. 2012NM060014/

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# ~ Enclosed is an original and one copy ofa request for hearing and Complaint inthe abovereferenced proceeding. · · The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requests that the hearing inthis matterbeheld in Salt Lake City, Utah, and expects thatthe hearing will last one (1) day. For scheduling purposes, FAA attorney, Robert Spitzer will be unavailable in year 2013: August 20-22,November 25-29 and December 2-20,2013. Please address all communications for the FAAto the undersigned at: Federal Aviation Administration Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 1601 Lind Avenue S.W. · Renton, Washington 98057

Telephone: (425) 227-1847 FAX: (425) 227-1007 

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Robert Spitzer FAAAttorney RS/ds Enclosures: Request for Hearing (Appeal) ComplaintROBERT SPITZER FAA OFFICE OF REGIONALCOUNSEL 1601 LIND AVE., SW RENTON, WASHINGTON98057 TELEPHONE: (425)227-1417 FACSIMILE: (425)227-1007

In the Matter of: 

### UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF HEARINGS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

# RECEIVED AUG -5 2013 

# HEARING DOCKET

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. FAA CaseNo. 2012NM060041 Judge Not Assigned

JUDGENOTASSIGNED: COMPLAINT The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by counsel, herebyfiles its Complaint, pursuantto Rule 208 ofthe Rules ofPractice (14 Code ofFederal Regulations (C.F.R.) Section 13 .208), and states as follows:

OnJuly 24, 2013, SkyWest Airlines, Inc., was advised through a Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAAproposed to assess a civil penalty inthe amount of$40,000. OnJuly 30, 2013, SkyWest Airlines, Inc., through its legal counsel, submitted a written request for a hearing.

COMPLAINT FAA v. SkyWest Airlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 2012NM060014 Page 2 of7 ROBERT SPITZER, FAAATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007 "·',,II. 1. SkyWest Airlines (SkyWest), is now and was at all times material herein the holder of Scheduled Air Carrier Certificate No. SWIA011A, and conducts its operations pursuant to Part 121 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). 2. ParagraphD085 ofSkyWest's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) authorizes SkyWest to use N236SW, an Embraer EMB-120-ER Civil Aircraft, in the conduct ofSkyWest's Part 121 operations. · 3. Paragraph A098 ofSkyWest'sOpSpecs requires that aircraft loading for Embraer EMB-120-ERAircraftbe accomplished in accordance with SkyWest's Weight & Balance Operations Part XII SP 4100 (W&B Manual). 4. SkyWest's W&B Manual contains the loading schedules and instructions for SkyWest's Embraer EMB-120-ERAircraft. 5. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Revision 01 dated 22 SEP 11), Chapter 2, defines "heavy checked bag" as any bag weighing more than 50 pounds, but less than 100 pounds." 6. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Revision 01 dated 22 SEP 11), Chapter 3, Paragraph 2.D.1 states the "designated loading agent evaluates the classification ofall checked baggage (either standards orheavy). The designated loading agent must mark the number of standard and heavy checked baggage onthe CLR(Cargo Load Report)." 7. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Revision 01 dated 22 SEP 11), Chapter 3, Paragraph 2.!.2 states that "[ u]pon completion ofloading the cargo bin/pit, the designated loading agent must verify the piece count ofall Standard Checked, Heavy Checked, and Planeside Loaded/Service Item Baggage
..." 8. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Revision 01 dated 22 SEP 11), Chapter 4, Paragraph 13.B.l states the "PIC (pilot in command) completes the ACARS load manifest with information. from the.CLR." 9. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Revision 01 dated 22 SEP 11), Chapter 4, Paragraph 8.9, -requires the loading agent to write the total number ofheavy checked baggage loaded in each cargo bin/pit in the appropriate "Heavy Checked" block onthe CLR.

COMPLAINT FAA v. SkyWest Airlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 2012NM060014 Page 3 of7 ROBERT SPITZER, FAAATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-100710. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Revision 01 dated 22 SEP 11), Chapter 4, Paragraph 12 contains the warning: 

# /!:l WARNING - INACCURATE LOADING, REPORTING, OR FAILURE TO REPORT INFORMATION COULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING, RESULTING IN THE ENDANGERMENT OF HUMAN LIFE. II. 11. OnNovember 16, 2011, at DenverInternational Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado, SkyWest loaded passengers and baggage onto N236SW to be operated as Flight 5449 bound for Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport (RKS), Rock Springs, Wyoming. 12. SkyWest's personnel at DEN loaded a heavy checked bag onto N236SW. 13. The CLRfor Flight 5449listed no heavy checked bags onboard N236SW. 14. The data onthe CLRwas used to constructthe ACARS load manifest for Flight 5449. 15. SkyWestthereafter operatedN236SW as Flight 5449 to RKS. 16. SkyWesthas paid civil penalties in a minimum ofeight previous cases involving loading ofcargo and baggage contraryto approved procedures. 

### III. 1. By reason ofthe foregoing facts and circumstances, SkyWestviolated the following sections ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations {14 C.P.R.):
a. Section 119.5(g), inthat, as a direct air carrier, it operated in violation ofappropriate operations specifications. b. Section 119.5(1), in that it operated aircraft under Part 121 in violation ofits operations specifications.
c. Section 121.693(a), in that it operated flight::; without a load manifest that accurately reflected the weight ofthe cargo and baggage. ·

COMPLAINT FAA v. SkyWest Airlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 2012NM060014 Page 4 of7 ROBERT SPITZER, FAAATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007

### d. Section 121.693(c), in that it operated flights when the total weight ofthe aircraft was not computed under approved procedures.
e. Section 121.693(d), inthatit operated flights when the aircraft was not loaded according to an approved schedule. 2. In accordance with Sections 46301(a) and (d) ofTitle 49 ofthe United States Code (U.S.C.) (Transportation) [49 U.S.C. Sections 46301(a) and (d)], SkyWest is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $27,500 for each ofthe violations noted. 3. Under the facts and circumstances ofthis case, a civil penalty of$40,000 is appropriate. WHEREFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests that the Administrative Law Judge enter an Order that SkyWestbe assessed a civil penalty inthe amount of$40,000.
Respectfully submitted this 31st day ofJuly, 2013.

Robert Sp1tzer · FAA Attorney

COMPLAINT FAA v. SkyWestAirlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 2012NM060014 Page 5 of7 ROBERT SPITZER, FAAATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007ANSWER In accordance with Section 13.209 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations, SkyWest, must answer this Complaint not later than thirty (30) days from the time it is served on it. Failure to file an Answer withinthirty (30) days without good cause shall be deemed an admission ofthe truth of each allegation contained inthe Complaint [14.C.F.R. § 13.209(f)].

COMPLAINT FAA v. SkyWest Airlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 2012NM060014 Page 6 of7 ROBERTSPITZER, FAAATTORNEY TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007

### CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that the foregoing Complaint has been served via facsimile and certified mail

- Return Receipt Requested this date, to the following: Feder.al Aviation Administration (Original and one copy) Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Wilbur Wright Building 800 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20591 Fax: (202) 493-5142 Todd Emerson, Esq. SkyWest Airlines, Inc. 444 South River Road ·St. George, UT 84790 TEL: (435) 634-3530 FAX: (435) 634-3505 Dated this 31 51 

### day ofJuly, 2013.

COMPLAINT FAA v. SkyWest Airlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 2012NM060014 Page 7 of7 

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### 1rk Offi e ofRegional Counsel (ANM-7) Federal AviationAdministration 1601 Lind Ave. SW Renton, WA 98057 (425) 227-2007

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

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Direct Dial: 435.634.3530 Direct Fax: 435.634.3505 c-ma1l: tcmcrson(a,skvwc?_U:g.m



### VIA FF:Dfi:RAL RXPRESS Federal Aviation Administration ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2W1000 800 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20591 Re: Case No. 2012NM060014 Dear Sir/Madam: July .30, 2013

The Final Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty in the above-referenced case was**-------::-:re~cc-:::.e,..,.Jv~-e..,u** 111 our office on JulYJTf,-2'01.). Pursuant to§ 13.16 (e) (2) (ii) ofFederal Air Regulations, SkyWest Airlines hereby requests a bea1ing on this matter. 

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Todd C. Emerson Director

- Govcmmcnt and Legal Affairs TCE/jb
cc: Roberi Spitzer