Allegiant Air flies unairworthy aircraft over 200 times

[Super VC-10]

An Allegiant MD83 made over 200 flights in an unairworthy condition due to maintenance errors. NTSB have recommended that FAA throw book at Allegiant.

Incident: Allegiant MD83 at Las Vegas on Aug 17th 2015, rejected takeoff due to premature rotation (http://avherald.com/h?article=48b6fd53&opt=0)

[DaveReidUK]

I'd be willing to wager that the phrase "throw the book at them" has never appeared in an NTSB investigation report or Safety Recommendation, nor ever will.

[RoyHudd]

I wonder how many stupid passengers got angry and complained about the delay. Quite a few, I bet.

I doubt the Captain was able to offer a cogent explanation on the PA.And nor would he. He'd probably get fired for announcing that the airliner was not safe to fly. And the lawyers would have a field day.

Another one of many required nails in LoCo's coffin. It will be a while, and a couple of accidents will happen before questions are asked.

Anyway, well done the pilot flying. And no criticism to ATC at Vegas. Good controllers there.

[wingview]

Just for the record, "The book was thrown" to AAR Aircraft Services Incorporated. Not sure if this is part of the Allegiant Corp?

[Airbubba]

Here's another MD-83 uncommanded rotation resulting in a high speed reject a few weeks ago:

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/591960-md-83-rto-overrun-kyip.html

[SMT Member]

The text on avherald, allegedly from the NTSB investiagator is - if proven to be true - damning to the point it's worth considering withdrawing AAR's license to service commercial airliners. It's the seemingly total and utter lack of management oversight which bothers me the most. This paints a picture of an organisation devoid of a properly functioning quality system, the alpha and omega of aircraft maintenance. Merely slapping a dollar fine om them isn't enough in my book, unless it's of a size to bankrupt the enterprise. Because, frankly, that's what they deserve.

Last, but not least, let us not forget that it's perfectly possible for an airline to outsource as good as any and all service, but they can never outsource responsibility if it's a function regulated by the aviation authorities. As a practical matter, the airline is responsible for the actions carried out by the sub-contractor, and is required to keep continuous oversigt, pointing out non-compliances as and when they are identified, ensuring they are resolved to the satisfaction of not only them, but also the authorities.

Thus, Allegiant should very much be on the chopping board here as well. I don't know what the legal practice is, but wouldn't be surprised the contractor will not be suffering nearly the same penalties as the sub-contractor. In my book they should be treated, and sanctioned, the same.

[scotneil]

Allegiant seem to be another "rogue" airline in the mould of Valuejet: surely now is the time for the FAA to pull the plug and withdraw their AOL before another accident similar to 11/05/96 Everglades crash recurs?

[bafanguy]

FYI:

The Disturbing Truth About How Airplanes Are Maintained Today | Vanity Fair (http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/11/airplane-maintenance-disturbing-truth)

Airlines outsource repairs, but cost-cutting leads to weaker oversight - Flying Cheaper | Investigative Reporting Workshop (http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/flying-cheaper/story/outsourcing-airline-maintenance/)

[peekay4]

NTSB have recommended that FAA throw book at Allegiant.

The investigation was performed by the FAA, not the NTSB. And the FAA inspector did not recommend sanctions against Allegiant (more below).

The Disturbing Truth About How Airplanes Are Maintained Today | Vanity Fair

Airlines outsource repairs, but cost-cutting leads to weaker oversight - Flying Cheaper | Investigative Reporting Workshop

A lot of scaremongering in that Vanity Fair article about outsourcing to "places like El Salvador, Mexico, and China, where few mechanics are F.A.A. certified and inspections have no teeth."

So it is a bit ironic AAR prides itself as being "American", employing only "American" workers and performing MRO exclusively at US facilities.

Thus, Allegiant should very much be on the chopping board here as well. I don't know what the legal practice is, but wouldn't be surprised the contractor will not be suffering nearly the same penalties as the sub-contractor. In my book they should be treated, and sanctioned, the same.

Allegiant definitely bears some responsibility. In this case Allegiant could have easily downplayed the situation but instead Allegiant self-disclosed a possible safety violation to the FAA just hours after the incident, and apparently made immediate procedure changes affecting all of their outsourced MRO.

Hence the FAA inspector accepted Allegiant's self-disclosure (under the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program -- VDRP) and did not recommend administrative action against Allegiant.

AAR is another story. But at the end, it looks like the sanction imposed on AAR was a Letter of Correction, which is an administrative sanction but only a step above a warning letter.

[ironbutt57]

what to expect from the lowest-bidder to the bottom feeder?

[413X3]

When do they plan on getting rid of the MD-80's completely? Or are they flying them into the ground (figuratively hopefully)?

[golfbananajam]

@RoyHudd (post #3)

Stupid passengers? I suppose you would know straight away what happened

How would the Captain know what to say by why of explanation? He had an uncommanded rotation but I'd be amazed if he would know why. what would your announcement be?

[Non-Driver]

Some things quite odd about this. I'm not an avid reader of AvH but previously found it to be fairly factual even though not part of anything official, the speculation is normally limited to the comments section. In this case though, the word "thundered" appears 3 times and the supposed comments from the Investigator are more emotional than I've ever seen from a regulator or investigative body. Added to the fact "the FAA" accidentally sent this to the Tampa rag, there are several layers of non-factual stuff you don't normally associate with a serious incident investigation. It almost borders on someone with a grudge deliberately leaking information tailored to their agenda. The only facts I can see are the RTO was due to elevator malfunction and the root cause of that was failing to fit a cotter pin in the thread behind the nut (although the "failing to fit" is speculative as mostly likely in the absence of one being found in the same place as the nut). The rest is all over the place and not what I've seen in Maintenance Error investigation.

[peekay4]

When do they plan on getting rid of the MD-80's completely? Or are they flying them into the ground (figuratively hopefully)?

They've been purchasing A320s (including brand new A320neos) and will transition to be an all-Airbus fleet by 2019.

[PAXboy]

The AVH say the report they are quoting is 'unredacted' and hence strong language may be used. I agree that the 'thundered' is questionable. However, if it truly concludes:
The FAA investigator thus made following recommendation: "I recommend maximum sanction be imposed for each FAR violation identified, in addition I recommend that a sanction be added for each of the 216 flights that were flown in violation as AAR Aircraft Services, Inc , was causal to the flights flown in an unairworthy condition." My emphasis.
That would be a punishment to set the aviation world into panic. Some will say, not before time.

[wjcandee]

Just for the record, "The book was thrown" to AAR Aircraft Services Incorporated. Not sure if this is part of the Allegiant Corp?

AAR is a ginormous MRO operation that does work for everyone. DL is particularly in love with them at the moment.

[wjcandee]

(although the "failing to fit" is speculative as mostly likely in the absence of one being found in the same place as the nut).

I agree with your other comments about the language used.

Not speculative because the report explains that the little access compartment is and was sealed, and the washer and nut were found in it, but nothing else. Very logical deduction: no cotter pin. Washer and nut were not broken, and so had spun off, something the pin would have prevented.

The real issue here is that AAR's work plan had FIVE different inspections that if done properly, any one would have detected this failure. AAR also had no paperwork that the inspections were performed, and yet released the aircraft without the paperwork being in order.

The inspector's ire was directed like a bullet at AAR. He was also annoyed because they had had failures to inspect before, and the "curative" action accepted by the FAA was insufficient.

[Non-Driver]

Thanks for pointing out the detail, I hadn't realised there was a hyperlink in the AvH synopsis to the actual letter. Sobering reading if somewhat emotional. Not something that would normally end up in the public domain. I reserve judgement on whether that was accidental or deliberate. He does seem to have strong opinions about 3rd party MRO's, some of which supports the causal factors and some not. Talk of median pay is somewhat distracting particularly if they're seeking "above median" opportunities where I'd expecting them to be demonstrating their skills and diligence. Oversight and good old fastidiousness is what I see lacking.

[bafanguy]

When do they plan on getting rid of the MD-80's completely?

By the end of 2019 according to a recent flightglobal article.

[TampaSLF]

Editorial: FAA reveals the truth by mistake | Tampa Bay Times (http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-faa-reveals-the-truth-by-mistake/2324464)

Tampa Bay Times, Florida's largest newspaper, is read widely and Allegiant is the major player at the "little " airport across the bay from me in St. Petersburg. So this will be raising eyebrows...

[PAXboy]

Whether this was an accidental release of the documents or deliberate, I'd like more honest opinions and documents in the world. Too many are edited before publication. Unless the public are informed, they cannot know what is happening. Good old commercial profit will tend to go down this path.

[413X3]

the Tampa rag
Non biased and non emotional opinion.

[.Scott]

@RoyHudd (post #3)

Stupid passengers? I suppose you would know straight away what happened

How would the Captain know what to say by why of explanation? He had an uncommanded rotation but I'd be amazed if he would know why. what would your announcement be?"My apologies ahead of time for what will certainly be a long delay. During our short visit to the runway, the aircraft did not perform to my satisfaction and it does not have my complete confidence. We need to return this aircraft to maintenance for servicing."