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March 19, 2010
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FAA Proposes Second Fine Against American

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By: Mark Lawrence
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Problems with maintenance on American MD-80s brought the airline its second fine from the FAA. (Photo by Phil Derner, Jr.)
Problems with maintenance on American MD-80s brought the airline its second fine from the FAA. (Photo by Phil Derner, Jr.)

Problems with maintenance on American MD-80s brought the airline its second fine from the FAA. (Photo by Phil Derner, Jr.)

Hot on the heels of a $787,500 fine against American Airlines proposed last week, the airline received a second notice from the US FAA that a second fine of $300,000 is also anticipated.

The new violation alleges that on February 2nd, American Airlines mechanics deferred maintenance on an MD-80 for equipment that falls under the minimum equipment list (MEL).  The violation stated that the “pitot/stall heater light off” light on a panel was inoperative and it was established the following day that the inoperative part was the captain’s pitot probe heater.

The proposed fine dated March 12th was for two different violations. The bulk of the fine was for the failure by mechanics to replace one of two central air data computers on a MD-80 after problems were discovered with the unit and 10 passenger flights were completed with the faulty unit. The second violation is for the failure to inspect rudder components of certain Boeing 757 aircraft per an issued airworthiness directive.