FAA Proposes $430,000 Penalty Against Beechcraft Corp
The penalty is for allegedly failing to maintain the required aircraft production quality control system
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $430,000 civil penalty against Beechcraft Corp. of Wichita, Kan., for allegedly failing to maintain the required aircraft production quality control system.
According to the news release, customers began reporting fuel leaks on 43 Beechcraft Barons that Beechcraft had recently manufactured. Investigators determined the leaks were caused by improperly installed fuel bladders.
“Safety must be the top priority of everybody involved with aviation,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “This is particularly true of manufacturers, where attention to details is vital during all steps of the assembly of complex aircraft.”
The FAA alleges Beechcraft did not follow its FAA-approved quality control process to ensure each aircraft conformed to its type design and was in a condition for safe operation.