The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it is planning to levy a fine of USD77,000 against National Airlines (N8, Orlando Sanford) for allegedly failing to comply with requirements concerning the loading and securing of heavy cargo. One of the incidents cited is the infamous crash of B747-400(F) N949CA (msn 25630) on take-off from Afghanistan in April 2013.
The FAA alleges that during March and April 2013, National failed to comply with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) while loading one or more Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), onto two B747-400(F)s that the company operated. The vehicles weighed between 23,001 pounds (10,455kg) and 37,884 pounds (17,220kg) the FAA added.
"Federal Aviation Regulations require operators to comply with all operating limitations specified in an aircraft’s approved flight manual. The FAA alleges that National did not comply with the operating limitations set forth in the Boeing 747s’ flight manuals, resulting in cargo that was not properly restrained to prevent shifting that could affect the safe operation of the aircraft," it said.
In the most serious incident, one of National's B747 freighters, N949CA (msn 25630), crashed shortly after takeoff from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan April 2013 killing all seven crew members and destroying all five MRAPs on-board.
While the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has yet to issue a final report on the accident, the FAA alleges that National did not secure those vehicles in accordance with the limitations set forth in the aircraft’s flight manual.
The airline is currently in talks with the FAA over the findings.
