Contributor

Mark Huber

<p>Today the FAA revoked Phoenix Heliparts’ air agency certificate to operate as a Part 145 repair station, alleging that the Mesa, Ariz. company performed improper repairs and deliberately falsified maintenance records. The emergency revocation comes on the heels of an investigation, begun in 2008 by the FAA’s Scottsdale Flight Service District Office, that allegedly uncovered multiple violations and “hundreds” of discrepancies. These include intentionally false entries in the aircraft maintenance records on at least four occasions, unauthorized use of an electronic recordkeeping system, failure to operate the maintenance shop according to its approved repair station and quality control manuals, using unqualified people to perform the work and use of incorrect parts. The FAA also alleges that Phoenix Heliparts identified unserviceable parts as serviceable and retained them for reuse, failed to document maintenance work and inspections, and failed to have and use approved data to guide major repairs and alterations. The FAA charged that Phoenix Heliparts had approved the return to service of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Hughes 369 with more than 30 airworthiness discrepancies and 100 items that had not been inspected in accordance with the company’s own quality control manual. Phoenix Heliparts can appeal the revocation to the NTSB. Company president Tina Cannon was not available for comment at press time.&nbsp;</p>


<p>News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.</p>
