FAA CIVIL PENALTY

October 28, 2016

The FAA has proposed a civil penalty of $892,500 against Air Methods Corp. for allegedly transporting passengers on an Airbus EC-135 helicopter, which was not air worthy.  During an inspection on November 4, 2014, the FAA inspector found that the helicopter’s pitot tubes – components in a system that measures an aircraft’s airspeed – were severely corroded. Air Methods was immediately notified but continued to operate the helicopter on fifty-one passenger-carrying revenue flights between November 4 and November 11, 2014 without replacing the pitot tubes.

The FAA alleges Air Methods operated the aircraft when it was not airworthy, which violated its operations specifications by failing to correct a known defect in the aircraft and acting in a manner that endangered lives and property.

If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).

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