4 February 2006
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to fine Cessna around $840,000 for alleged violations stemming from a recall of 42 Cessna 172 and 182 aircraft last March. During an initial check of the company’s factory, in Independence, Kansas, FAA inspectors discovered problems with aircraft control rigging. When Cessna revealed more problems in early March, the FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive grounding 42 aircraft, some of which had already been delivered to their new owners. After further inspections, 12 of the aircraft covered by the AD were found to be not airworthy. The FAA’s formal allegation against Cessna is that it failed to comply with FAA regulations in building the 42 aircraft.
Inspectors found problems with cables and bolts, a stall-warning sensor that had not been connected, two cases of foreign objects in the aircraft and a rudder-trim chain off a sprocket.
The FAA says it’s already being very fair to Cessna over the fine. Each of the 42 cases of uncertainty arising from defective quality-control is subject to a $25,000 civil penalty ($1,050,000 in total) but the agency says it ‘would be willing to accept $840,000 in settlement of this matter.
The company has issued a statement saying it wants to meet informally with FAA officials ‘to reach a mutual understanding of the facts and of the final amount of the fine, if any, which is appropriate under the circumstances.’
