The Federal Aviation Administration proposes to fine American Airlines a total of $787,500 for three maintenance violations.
The FAA proposes a civil penalty of $625,000 for an incident occurring in April 2008. The FAA alleges American mechanics diagnosed problems with a central air data computer on a MD-82, but improperly deferred the maintenance instead of replacing the computer.
The airline subsequently operated 10 passenger flights before the computer was replaced. During this time, flight crews were led to believe that both computers were working properly, said the FAA.
The FAA also wants to penalize American $75,000 for allegedly failing to comply with an airworthiness directive involving the inspection of rudder components on four Boeing 757s in March 2008. The FAA said American improperly flew two of the planes on a total of three passenger flights.
Finally, the FAA proposes an $87,500 fine because mechanics in May 2009 allegedly returned a MD-82 to service after failing to check off steps of a scheduled maintenance visit as completed. The airline also replaced a landing gear door without noting it in the aircraft’s logbook, alleged the FAA.
The FAA said the aircraft flew twice with the logbook error, and that an FAA inspection of the MD-82 revealed problems in the tail section -- including loose screws, a missing nut plate and a binding, noisy elevator torque tube.
American has 30 days to respond to the FAA's penalty letter.
