Wed, Aug 18, 2010
Oregon Company Allegedly Performed Improper Repairs, Falsified
Maintenance Records
The FAA is proposing a $580,000 civil penalty against
Hillsboro Aviation, Inc., of Hillsboro, OR, for allegedly
performing improper repairs, deliberately falsifying maintenance
records and operating a helicopter in a reckless manner.
The FAA alleges that Hillsboro mechanics used incorrect parts
and an unqualified individual to make repairs to a Bell 206 Jet
Ranger helicopter. The FAA also alleges the company made no record
in the aircraft maintenance logs of work performed, and
deliberately falsified maintenance documents claiming an
airworthiness directive had been completed when the work had not
been done.
In all, the company operated the helicopter on at least 103
flights when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation
Regulations between June 29 and Sept. 9, 2008. At least four of
these operations were conducted under Part 135 (Commuter and
On-Demand Operations) of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
The FAA also alleges that Hillsboro mechanics failed to perform
the required inspections after specified flight intervals on
another Jet Ranger helicopter when the aircraft returned to service
after maintenance. Hillsboro operated the aircraft on at least 430
flights, including at least 349 revenue flights under Part 135
between Jan. 13 and Sept. 7, 2008.
The third violation involved the operation of another Jet Ranger
on a passenger-carrying flight, July 8, 2008. The pilot flew under
the Interstate 5 and 205 highway bridges over the Columbia River in
Portland, Ore. The FAA alleged the flight endangered the lives and
property of others, because it was conducted within 500 feet of a
structure, and at a low altitude where a safe emergency landing
might not have been possible.
Hillsboro Aviation has 30 days from the receipt of the
FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All