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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Transportation�s Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) proposes a $325,000 civil penalty against Southwest
Airlines of Dallas, Texas, for allegedly operating a Boeing 737 that was not in
compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations. On July
9, 2014, an FAA inspector performed an aging aircraft inspection on the Boeing
737 while it was at a maintenance facility in San Salvador, El Salvador. The
inspector discovered that Southwest improperly recorded a temporary repair to an
approximately nine-inch crease in the aluminum skin of the jetliner�s rear
cargo door as a permanent repair. The
inspector discovered that this fuselage damage had first been reported in
Southwest Airlines� maintenance records on May 2, 2002, which is when the
airline made the temporary repair. The airline was required to inspect the
temporary repair every 4,000 flights and complete a permanent repair within
24,000 flights. However,
the FAA alleges the airline operated the aircraft on 24,831 flights without performing
the periodic inspections required for the temporary repair. The agency further
alleges the airline operated the plane on 4,831 flights beyond the flight
threshold by which it was required to have performed the permanent repair. The
final repair was completed on July 24, 2014. Southwest
has asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case.
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