The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing $1 million in civil penalties against Pinnacle Airlines, a Delta Connection carrier, for operating aircraft that were not in compliance with federal regulations for periods in 2009 and 2010.
According to the FAA, Memphis-based Pinnacle operated a Canadair regional jet on 23 flights between April 30 and May 4, 2009 with flight crew performing procedures that should have been done by maintenance workers. The crew members were installing and removing a cable kit on a plane with a wheel assembly that was missing or not working for the passenger door. The FAA proposed a $625,000 penalty for the violation.
The agency also proposed a $417,500 penalty for Pinnacle's alleged failure to complete inspections in 2010 according to the required schedule to identify and track growth of a crack in a turbine case.
Pinnacle has 30 days to respond.
