FAA – Civil Penalty Against Alaska Airlines

The FAA is proposing a $590,000 civil penalty against Alaska Airlines for allegedly operating a Boeing 737-400 on 2107 flights when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

On Jan. 18, 2010, a flight deck ceiling fire occurred in a Boeing 737-400 while it was parked at the gate at Anchorage International Airport. Investigators determined the fire was caused by chafed wiring that had resulted from improper installation of a hose clamp. The Boeing 737-400 maintenance manual includes an explicit warning about proper installation of the hose clamp. Alaska subsequently discovered the same problem existed on nine other 737-400s in its fleet and made corrections. There were no other fires.

“Maintenance work has to be performed precisely and correctly every time,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Improper maintenance can have serious consequences.”



Source: FAA