FAA Proposes $430,000 Civil Penalty Against Beechcraft

The FAA is proposing a $430,000 civil penalty against Beechcraft for failing to maintain the required quality control system on its Baron production line. The proposed action stems from an investigation into customer reports of fuel leaks on 43 Barons produced between January 2012 and November 2013, the FAA alleges. Investigators determined that improperly installed fuel bladders led to the leaks, the agency said. 

In the civil penalty letter, the agency cites a number of issues involved with the installation, including the use of an unauthorized tool, installation of dimensionally nonconforming bladders, and the improper placement of the bladders' interconnect nipple base. “This error was not detected during inspection,” the FAA alleged. Installation errors resulted in excess material that could lead to bladder seam deformation and compromise the inner lining, the FAA said.

The civil penalty alleges that the Wichita manufacturer did not follow its FAA-approved quality control process to ensure the aircraft conformed to the type design and was safe to operate. Beechcraft has 30 days to respond to the proposed enforcement action. Beechcraft said it is working with the FAA on the matter, but would not comment beyond that.