8/18/2014 12:23:00 PM
HEADLINES
Fasteners Part of FAA’s Proposed $12m Fine Against Southwest Airlines
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $12 million civil penalty against Southwest Airlines for failing to comply with Federal Aviation Regulations in three separate enforcement cases related to repairs on Boeing 737 jetliners, Aviation Pros reports.
The FAA alleges that beginning in 2006, Southwest Airlines’ contractor, Everett, WA-based Aviation Technical Services, failed to follow proper procedures when conducting “extreme makeover” alterations to eliminate potential cracking of the aluminum skin on 44 jetliners.
“During its investigation, the FAA found that ATS workers applied sealant beneath the new skin panels but did not install fasteners in all of the rivet holes during the timeframe for the sealant to be effective,” Aviation Pros reports.
“This could have resulted in gaps between the skin and the surface to which it was being mounted,” allowing moisture to penetrate the skin and lead to corrosion.
Other alleged infractions involve failure to properly stabilize the aircraft while the work was being performed, and failure to properly install a ground wire on water drain masts.
Southwest Airlines has 30 days to respond to the allegations.
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