FAA Proposes Penalty Against Ameriflight

The FAA proposed a $150,000 civil penalty against Ameriflight of Burbank, Calif., for allegedly operating a Beech 99 that did not comply with FAA regulations. The agency alleges that on Jan. 8, 2010, an Ameriflight pilot reported water leaking into the cockpit through a gap in the windshield above the copilot’s visor. That same day, an Ameriflight mechanic “patch sealed” the windshield and returned the aircraft to service on January 12.

On May 17, 2010, an Ameriflight mechanic repatched the gap in the windshield and again returned the aircraft to service. The FAA alleges that patch sealing over the windshield gap was not acceptable maintenance and that the aircraft was not airworthy. It further alleges that Ameriflight operated the aircraft on numerous occasions while these circumstances rendered it unairworthy. Ameriflight has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.