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- DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N OFFIC E O F HEARING S WASHINGTON , D C 

# DOCKE T I n th e Matte r

of Flyin g High , LLC . Responden t FAA Docke t No . CPlOWPOOl l DM S No. : FA A 2010-078 5 FAA Region : Wester n Pacifi c Judge : Richar dC . Goodwi n COMPLAINANT' S MOTIO N T O DEE M ALLEGATION S ADMITTE D AN D MOTIO N FO RDECISIO N OR , I N TH E ALTERNATIVE , MOTIO N T O LIMI T TH E

ISSUE S A T HEARIN G T O SANCTIO N To ; Hon . Richar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ e La w Judge , an dt o Flyin g High , LLC . ("Respondent") : COME S NOW , th e Regiona l Counse l o f th e Western-Pacifi c Regio n o f th e Federa

l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA) , b y counsel , an dfile s thi s Motio n to DeemAllegation s Admitte dan dMotio n fo

r Decisio n t o issu e a

n orde r assessin g civi l penalty , o r i n th e alternative , to dee mallegation s admitte dan dt o limi t th e hearin g t o th e amoun t o f th e sanctio n pursuan t

to section s 13.218(a ) an d(f)(5) , an d13.209(1 ) o f Titl e 1 4 o f

th e Cod e o f Federa l Regulations . Thi s motio n i s base do n th e fact n o answe r

ha s bee n filedb

y Respondent . Sectio n 13.209( 0 ofih e Rule s o f Practic e [1 4 C.F.R . Sectio n 13.209(0 ] states : " A person' s failure t o fil e a

n answe r withou t goo dcaus e shal l b e deeme da n admissio n to th e trut h o f eac h allegatio n containe di n th e complaint. " Th e Complain t an daccompanyin g cove r lette r i n thi s cas e wer e sent

t o Responden t

o n Decembe r

9 , 2011 . Th e Complain t alleged :1 . Flyin g High i s now , an da t al l (ime s mentione dherein , wa s th e owne r o f aCessn a C-150 F aircraft , Civi l Registratio n No . N8087S . 2 . At al l relevan t

time s Sea

n Cook e wa s th e manage r o f Flyin g High . 3 . O n o r abou t Jun e 1 , 2010 , Anthon y Bel l mad e a n entr y i n th e maintenanc e record o f N8087 S statin g tha

t he ha dperforme da

n annua ! inspectio n an dtha t th e tota l tim e i n servic e fo

r th e propelle r

o n N8087 S wa s unknown . 4 . O n o r abou t January 21 , 2011 , th e FA A sen t alette r t o Mr . Cook e statin g that th e maintenanc e lo g entr

y fo r a n annua l inspectio n perfonne do n Jun e 1 , 2010 , di dno t hav e a n entr y fo r th e propelle r

total tim e i

n service . 5 . O n January 31 , 2011 , th e SD L FSD O receive dalette r fro mMr . Cooke . I

n hi s lette r h e state dtha

t "ther e i s n o annotatio n a s to...ho w many hour s ar e o n th e propeller. " I

n hi s lette r

he als o state dtha

t "[t]hes e item s wil l b e correcte da s soo n a s possible , but

n o later than 6 0 day s fro

mtoday' s date . Th e aircraf t wil l no t b e flow n befor

e thes e item s hav e been accomph'shed. " 6 . O n o r abou t Februar y 16 , 2011 , Mr . Bel l mad e a n entr> ' i n th e maintenanc e record o f N8087 S statin g that

''Tota l Airfram e Tim e an dPropelle r time s hav e bee n researche dan dfoun

dto b e i n error. " Th e entr> ' als o state dtha t th e total tim e i

n servic e fo r th e propelle r

o n N8087 S wa s unknown . 7 . O n o r abou t Februar y 16 , 2011 , Flyin g Hig h operate dN8087 S b y authorizin g a flight fro mStella r Airpar k (P I 9 ) nea

r Chandler , Arizona , t o Falco n Fiel dAirjior t (FFZ ) nea r Mesa , Arizona . 8 . Mr . Cook e wa s infonne db y alette r sen t b y th e FAA , date dApri l 11 , 2011 , tha t th e maintenanc e record s forN8087 S di dno t hav e th e tota

l tim e i n servic e fo

r th e liste dpropeller . 9 . O n o r abou t Apri l 21 , 2011 , th e SD L FSD O receive dalette r fro mMr . Cooke . He agai n acknowledge dtha

t "[n] o recor do f

th e total tim e i

n servic e o r

tim e sinc e overhau l wa s mad e i

n th e curren t

logboo k or an y logboo k

thereafter. " 10 . Flyin g High ha s faile dt o kee p record s establishin g th e tota l tim e i n servic e o f

th e propelle r installe do n N8087S . Responden t

wa s advise do f

th e requiremen t

to fil e a n answe r i n th e cove r

letter tha t accompanie dth e Complaint . Responden t wa s als o advise do f

this requiremen t

i n th eAdministrativ e La w Judge' s January 9 , 2012 , Procedura l Order serve dupo n al l partie s a

t thei r addresse s o f

record . Sectio n 13.209(a ) o f

Title 1 4 o f

th e Cod e o f

Federal Regulation s [1 4 C.F.R . sectio n 13.209(a) l require s aresponden t to file a n answe r n o late r tha n thirt y (30 ) day s afte

r service . Pursuan t t o sectio n 13.211 , th e dat e o f servic e i s th e dat e o

n th e proo f

o f service , an dafte

r servic e b y mail , a n additiona l fiv e (5 ) day s i s adde dto th e prescribe dperio dfo r aresponse . Accordingly , a

n answe r wa s du e o n Januar

y 13 , 2012 , whic h i s thirty-fiv e (35 ) day s afte r Decembe r 9 , 201 1 (th e dat e th e Complain t wa s served) . T o date , n o answe r ha s bee n receive db y Complainan t

fro mRespondent , no r

ha s ther e been areques t

fo r a n extensio n o f tim e i n whic h t o t1l

e a n answer , h i vie w o f

th e above , Complainan t

move s tha

t th e allegation s i

n th e complain t

b e deeme dadmitted . A s aresult , ther e i s n o genuin e issu e o f material fac t

an dth e Complainan t

i s entitle dt o adecisio n a s amatte r o f law . Responden t

faile dt o kee p arecordo f th e propelle r

total tim e o f

N8087 S i

n violatio n o f 1 4 CFR§ 91.4l7(a)(2)(i) . Respondent' s subsequen t operatio n o f

N8087 S resulte di

n a violatio n o f

1 4 CF R§ 91.203(a)(1) , sinc e th e aircraft' s airworthines s certificat e wa s ineffectiv e a

t th e tim e o f

th e flight . Unde r

1 4 CFR§ 21.181(a)(1 ) astandar dairworthines s certificat e i s "effectiv e a s lon g a s th e maintenance , preventativ e maintenance , an dalteration s ar e performe di

n accordanc e wit

h Part s 4 3 an d9 1 o f

this chapter... " Th e requiremen t t o kee p arecor do f

propelle r total tim e unde r

§ 9l.417(a)(2)(i ) i s locate di n Par t 91 , Subpar

t E

Maintenancc , Preventativ e Maintenance , an dAlterations . Th e applicability regulatio n fo r Subpar t E , 1 4 CF R§ 91.401(a) , states : "Thi s subpart prescribe s rule s governin g th e maintenance , preventativ e maintenance , an dalteration s o f U.S.

- registere dcivi l aircraf t operatin g withi n o r

outsid e of

th e Unite dStates. " Therefore , afailure t o kee p th e record srequire dunde r § 91.417(a)(2)(i ) i s afailure t o maintai n th e aircraf t i n accordanc e wit

h Par t 9 1 renderin g th e aircraft' s airworthines s certificat e ineffectiv e pursuan t t o § 21.181(a)(1) . Complainan t

request s tha

t th e Judg e issu e a

n Orde r Assessin g Civi l Penalt

y i n th e amoun t o f $6,200.00 . Alternatively , i t i s move dtha

t th e allegation s b e deeme dadmitte dan d th e hearin g b e limite dto th e issu e o f th e amoun t

o f th e sanction . Th e sanctio n requeste di

n thi s cas e i s reasonable . Th e FAA' s publicl y availabl e sanctio n guidanc e tabl e i s containe di n Appendi x B o f

FA A Orde r 2150.3B . Fo

r individual aircraf

t owner s an dothers , th e sanctio n guidanc e table , Figur e B-3-a.(3) , list s a minimu mto moderat e civi l penalty fo r a"[fjailur e to make prope r entr y i n aircraf t log, " correspondin g with th e § 91.4l7(a)(2)(i ) violation . Th e sanctio n guidanc e table , Figure B-3-h.(2) , list s a3 0 to 9 0 da y suspensio n fo

r "[o]peratio n whe n avali dairworthines s certificat e ha

dno t been issued, " but

doe s no t lis t acivi l penalt

y range . Th e sanctio n guidanc e tabl e provide s fo r certificat e action s fro

m1 5 t o 18 0 day s (excludin g indefinite suspensio n or

revocation) . Becaus e 3 0 t o 9 0 day s i s aminimu mt o moderat e suspensio n period , the n aminimu mto moderat e civi l penalty woul db e appropriat e fo r th e § 9L203(a)(l ) violation . FA A Order 2150.3B , Appendi x B paragrap h 3.c.(7) , state s tha t fo r asmal l busines s concern tha t doe s no t hol dacertificat e an dha s violate daregulatio n covere dunder

4 9 U.S.C . § 46301(a)(5)(A)" , th e minimu mcivi l penalty rang e i s $55 0 to $2,19 9 an dth e moderat e civi l penalt y rang e i s $2,20 0 t o $4,399 .

' Respondent

doe s no t hol da n ai r agency , ai r

carrie r o r commercia l operatin g certificate . ' 4 9 U.S.C . § 46301(a)(5)(A ) states : "An individual (excep t a n ainna n servin g a s a

n ainnan ) o r

smal l busines s concer n i s liabl e t o th e Governmen t fo r acivi l penalt

y o f no t more tha n $10,00 0 fo

r violating — (i ) chapte r

40 1 (excep t

section s 4010 3 (a ) and(d) , 40105 . 4010 6 (b) , 40116 , and40117) . sectio n 4450 2 (b ) o r (c) , chapte r

447sectio n 4450 2 (b ) o r

(c) , chapte r

44 7 (excep t

section s 44717-44723) . o r chapte r 44 9 (excep t section s 44902 , 4490 3 (d) , 44904 , and44907^4909 ) o f ihi s title ; o r

(ii ) aregulatio n prescribe do r orde r issue d unde r an y provisio n t o whic h claus e (i ) applies. " Th e statutory authority fo r 1 4 CFR§ 91.203(a)(1 ) i s 4 9 U.S.C . § 44711(a)(1) , whic h states : " A perso n ma y no t operat e acivi l aircraf

t i n ai r commerc e withou t

a n airworthines sChapte r 7 o f FA A Orde r 2150.3B , whic h i s als o availabl e t o th e public , provide s guidanc e fo

r applyin g th e sanctio n range s liste di n Appendi x B . A

n appropriat e sanctio n i s selecte db

y beginnin g wit

h a n amoun t i n th e middl e o f

th e rang e liste di

n the sanctio n guidanc e tabl e an dincreasin g tha t amoun t fo r aggravatin g factor s an ddecreasin g th e amoun t fo r mitigatin g factor s liste di n Chapte r 7 , paragrap h 4." ' Therefore , unde r th e guidanc e i

n FA A Orde r 2150.3 B a

n appropriat e civi l penall y fo r th e ^ 91.417(a)(2)(i ) violation , whic h hadn o mitigatin g or aggravatin g factors , i s th e middl e o f th e sanctio n rang e liste dabove , o r

$2,474.50 . A n aggravate dsanctio n fo

r th e § 91.203(a)(1 ) violatio n i s appropriat e i n this cas e sinc e Respondent' s violatio n wa s deliberate . FA A Orde r 2150.3B , Chapte r

7 , paragrap h 4.b.(l ) states , i

n pertinen t

part , that : "Deliberat e o r intentiona l misconduc t

i s a n aggravatin g circumstanc e an dinclude s deliberat e conduc t that lead s t o aviolatio n a s well a s circumstance s indicatin g intent t o commi t

aviolation. " Th e circumstance s o f this cas e indicat e Responden t

acte di n adeliberat e manne r

that lea dt o th e violation . A s indicate d i n th e Complaint , o n o r

abou t Januar y 21 , 2011 , th e FA

A informe dMr . Cooke , Respondent' s manager , b y letter tha t th e maintenanc e lo g enti y fo r a n annua l inspectio n perfonne do n Jun e 1 . 2010 , di dno t hav e a n entr y fo r th e propelle r

tota l tim e i n servic e fo

r N8087S . Onorabou t

Januar y 31,2011 , th e Sconsdal e Flight Standard s Distric t

Offic e receive dalette r

fromMr . Cooke acknowledgin g tha t "ther e i s n o annotatio n a s to...ho w

certificat e i

n effec t o r i n violatio n o f

aten n o f th e certificate. " Th e statutory authority fo r 1 4 CFR§ 91.417(a)(2)(i)is4 9 U.S.C . § 44701(a)(5) , whic h states : "Th e Administrato r o f th e Federal Aviatio n Administratio n shal l promot e saf e fligh t o f civi l aircraf

t i n ai r commerc e b

y prescribing-...(5 ) regulation s an d minimu mstandard s fo

r othe r practices , methods , andprocedur e th e Administrato r find s nccessar> ' fo

r sarct> ' i n ai r commerc e an dnationa l security. " Thus , Responden t violate dregulation s prescribe dunder provision s t

o whic h claus e (i ) o f

§ 46301(a)(5)(A ) applies . ^ FA A Orde r 2150.3B , paragrap h 5.b.(3) .many hour s are o n th e propeller, " an dstatin g tha t "[t]h e aircraf

t wil l no t b e How n before thes e item s hav e been accomplished. " Mr . Cook e als o acknowledge di n aseparat e letter tha t "[n] o recor

do f th e tota l tim e i n servic e o r

tim e sinc e overhau l wa s mad e i n th e curren t logboo k o r an y logboo k thereafter. " Despit e knowin g tha t th e aircraf

t record s di d no t contai n a n entr y fo r th e propelle r

total tim e a s require db

y § 9i.417(a)(2)(i) , o n o r abou t Februar y 16 , 2011 , Responden t

operate dN8087 S b

y authorizin g afligh

t from Stellar Airpar k (P19 ) nea

r Chandler , Arizona , t o Falco n Fiel dAirpor t (FFZ ) nea

r Mesa , Arizona . Give n th e deliberat e natur e o f th e § 91.203(a)(1 ) violatio n a n aggravate d sanctio n o f

$4,00 0 i s appropriate . Whe n adde dt o th e $2,474.5 0 civi l penalt y fo r th e § 91.417(a)(2)(i ) violation , Complainan t woul dhav e bee n justifie di n seekin g atota

l civi l penalty o f

$6,474.50 . Complainant' s choic e o f

sanctio n i

n this cas e a s i

t i s no t arbitrary , capricious , or otherwis e no t

accordin g to law." * Complainan t ha s selecte dacivi l penalty wel l withi n th e rang e indicate di

n th e sanctio n guidanc e tabl e o f FA A Orde r 2150.3B .

• * See , 4 9 U.S.C . § 44709(d)(3 )Base do n th e foregoing , Complainan t i s entitle dto adecisio n i n it s favor tha t Responden t

committe dth e violation s charge dan dshoul db e assesse dacivi l penalt y o f $6,200.00 . I

n th e alternative , theoni y issu e appropriat e fo r th e hearin g i s th e amoun t o f civi l penally . Respectfull y submitted , NAOM I TSUD A Regiona l Counse l

AdamRunke l Attorne y

^'^^^'^ - FE B 1 6 201 2CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E

1 hereb y certif

y tha t o n thi s dat e I sent

vi aUnite dState s mail , postag e prepaid , th e execute dorigina l an don e copy , a s wel l a s on e cop y b y facsimile , o f

th e COMPLAFNANT' S MOTIO N T O DEFM ALLEGATION S ADMITTE D AN D MOTIO N FO RDECISION , O R I N TH E ALTEI^ATIV E MOTIO N T O LIMI T ISSUE S AT HEARIN G T O SANCTION , addresse da s follows : Federal 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 WilburVrigh t

Building—Suit e 2W100 0 Facsimile : (202 ) 493-514 2 An db y facsimil e onl y to :

Hon . Richar dC . Goodwi n Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Ave. , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mE12-23 0 Washington , D.C . 2059 0 Facsimile : (202 ) 366-753 6 1 furthe r certif y tha t o n thi s dat e 1 sent

vi aUnite dState s mail , postag e prepaid , atru e cop y o f th e COMPLAINANT' S MOTIO N T O DEE M ALLEGATION S ADMITTE D AN D MOTIO N FO

RDECISION , O RI

N TH E ALTERNATIV E MOTIO N T O LIMI T ISSUE S AT HEARIN G T O SANCTION , addresse da s follows : Flyin g High , LL C Attn : Sea n Benjami n Cooke , Manager 3309E . Milk

y Wa y Gilbert , A

Z 8529 5

^"^"^ ^ FE

B 16-201 2

Jef f Kamber ^ Lega

l Technician ! / Offic e o f th e Regional Couns^ K Federal Aviatio n Administratio n Western-Pacifi c Regio n Lawndale , Californi a