ASCI 202 Blog 6-2: Legislative Acts

 For this blog I pondered quite a bit. What is one of the most important legislative acts or Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR)? In my opinion, it would have to do with really anything that governs the rules and regulations over maintenance of an aircraft. I researched an article that pretty much sums up what I am trying to say. FAR 43.12 speaks to deliberate falsification of maintenance records (O'Brien, 2000).

Image Retrieved from https://businessaircraftrecords.org/wp-content/uploads/federal-aviation-regulations-business-jet-aircraft-maintenance-records.jpg


Maintainers need to be meticulous, sharp, and consistent. If a shop or even one maintenance person has a bad day, the result can be catastrophic. An example of this would Alaksa Airlines Flight 261 on January 1, 2000 (Guzzetti, 2000). The horizontal stabilizer jackscrew was worn and had end play (Guzzetti, 2000). The lead mechanic two years prior to the incident had notified authorities and ordered it replaced but the airline recorded a second team to sign off on the inspection as certified and within parameters (Guzzetti, 2000). The aircraft crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California where all 88 passengers were fatally injured (Guzzetti, 2000). The post accident investigation proceedings came to the conclusion that the second maintenance team did in fact deliberately falsify maintenance records to get the plane back into rotation (Guzzetti, 2000).

ImageRetrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Screwshavings2_sm.PNG/220px-Screwshavings2_sm.PNG


Something as small as a worn screw caused the death of all passengers on board. Maintenance has a hard job but arguably the most important job in aviation. Without maintainers, no one fly's. There is an honor system in place. When a maintainer signs his or her name to that inspection, others that see are trusting the work and integrity of the maintainer. Deliberate falsifying documents that day was a fatal error. 

Luke

Word Count: 288

References 

O'Brien, B. (March 1, 2000). The 100 percent rule. Retrieved on August 12, 2021, from https://www.aviationpros.com/home/article/10388667/the-100-percent-rule

Guzzetti, J. (March 31, 2000). From C-Check to Tragedy: Lessons Learned from Alaska flight 261. Retrieved on August 12, 2021, from https://www.avm-mag.com/from-c-check-to-tragedy-lessons-learned-from-alaska-flight-261/

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