Goes After Carrier For Deferred Maintenance, Other
Violations
ANN REALTIME UPDATE 08.14.08
2145 EDT: "We do not agree." That's what American Airlines
had to say Thursday, following the announcement of the FAA’s
plan to slap the carrier with $7.1 million in penalities over the
agency's findings of improperly deferred maintenance,
and issues with the airline's drug testing program.
"We believe the proposed penalties are excessive," the airline
added.
American officials state they have "requested to meet with the
FAA after we have had time to thoroughly review their findings, so
that we may discuss the issues.
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 08.14.08 1615 EDT: The
Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday actions totaling
$7.1 million in civil penalties against American Airlines for
improperly deferring maintenance on safety-related equipment and
deficiencies with its drug and alcohol testing programs and exit
lighting inspections.
The FAA asserts that in December 2007, American used the wrong
provisions of its Minimum Equipment List (MEL) to return two MD-83
aircraft to service after pilots had reported problems, and flew
the planes 58 times in violation of FAA regulations. The MEL
contains components and systems without which the aircraft may
operate safely under specific limitations, as proven by the
operator or manufacturer.
On December 11 and 12, American operated the first MD-83 on
eight flights in airspace it should have been restricted from after
maintenance on part of the autopilot system was improperly
deferred. An FAA inspector discovered the improper deferral and
informed the airline, however American flew the plane on 10 more
revenue flights until the problem was fixed on December 17.
In another incident, the autopilot disconnected during a landing
by the same aircraft on December 21. American technicians did not
check for the actual problem, and instead deferred maintenance
using an inappropriate MEL item. The plane flew another 36
passenger-carrying flights during December 21-31. Airline
maintenance later discovered the fault was in a radio altimeter
– not the autopilot.
For the violations involving this MD-83, the FAA is proposing a
$4.1 million civil penalty.
A different MD-83 experienced an autopilot disconnect on
December 27. Although American mechanics correctly diagnosed the
problem, they again deferred maintenance under the wrong item of
the MEL. As a result, the aircraft operated on four revenue flights
without a fully functioning autopilot. The FAA is proposing a
$325,000 civil penalty in this instance.
The FAA believes the large total amount of the fine for these
violations is appropriate because American Airlines was aware that
appropriate repairs were needed, and instead deferred maintenance.
In intentionally continuing to fly the aircraft, the carrier did
not follow important safety regulations intended to protect
passengers and crew.
Also, in May of this year the FAA proposed civil penalties in
the amount of $2.7 million in civil penalties against American for
alleged past deficiencies in its drug and alcohol testing programs
and for allegedly operating aircraft in past years without timely
inspections of emergency escape path lighting systems. The amount
included $1.7 million civil penalty for the testing program
violations and $1 million for the lighting inspection
violations.
As ANN reported in April, American cancelled
over 3,300 flights served by MD-80 airliners when FAA inspectors
found needed inspections to wiring bundles in the jets' maingear
wells -- checks American maintained had already been done -- still
had not been performed.
American Airlines will have the opportunity to respond to the
latest proposed civil penalties, the FAA said.