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Operations

Operations. Captain Roger Cox. Identity of the Operator. Revenue passengers on board No one claimed to be operator Multiple entities involved in initiation, authorization, and operation. Entities Involved. Southwest Orthopedic - airplane owner Owner’s pilot / airplane manager

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Operations

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  1. Operations Captain Roger Cox

  2. Identity of the Operator • Revenue passengers on board • No one claimed to be operator • Multiple entities involved in initiation, authorization, and operation

  3. Entities Involved • Southwest Orthopedic - airplane owner • Owner’s pilot / airplane manager • Interstate Helicopters - Part 135 helicopter operator • Accident pilot • Second pilot • Passengers - United Engines

  4. Relationship of Entities Southwest Orthopedic (Airplane owner) Second Pilot Pilot Accident Flight Airplane Owner’s Pilot Interstate Helicopters United Engines (Customer)

  5. The Pilot • Accident flight conducted outside his regular employment • Chief pilot at another company • Qualified to fly Cessna 500 as single pilot under Part 91

  6. The Second Pilot • Accident flight outside his regular employment • Normally flew piston twin, ran flight school • No record that he was trained on or current in Cessna 500

  7. Pilots’ Qualifications • Neither pilot employed by Part 135 operator • Neither pilot trained under Part 135 • Neither would have been able to fly a clearly identified commercial flight • Crew awareness of commercial nature of flight unknown

  8. Southwest Orthopedic (Owner) • Received hourly rate when airplane used by others • Believed airplane was “dry leased” • Could not explain “dry lease” or “operator” • Had no written or verbal lease agreements

  9. 14 CFR 91.23: Truth in Leasing • Apply to airplanes more than 12,500 pounds • Expanded use of airplanes weighing less for charter operations • May operate without FAA knowledge of lease agreements

  10. United Engines (Passengers) • Believed accident flight was commercial charter • Stated that they did not lease • Had used Interstate Helicopters for airplane flights multiple times • Stated that Interstate Helicopters’ prices were cheaper than other airplane charter operators

  11. Interstate Helicopters • Part 135 helicopter operator • No airplanes on certificate • “Put the [accident] flight together”

  12. Interstate Helicopters • Invoiced United Engines for airplanes as “lease” and “sales demo” flights • Paid airplane’s owner for use of airplane • Invoicing disguised flights, circumvented operating certificate

  13. Recommendation Areas • Responsibilities of each of four main entities involved in accident flight • FAA oversight

  14. FAA Oversight • OKC FSDO reported staffing issues, inspector turnover • FAA ramp checks were rare • OKC FSDO investigated complaints about Interstate, found no basis

  15. FAA Oversight • Special Emphasis Inspection • Purpose: Detect improper operations • No major issues found at Interstate

  16. FAA Enforcement Action • Interstate Helicopters’ Part 135 certificate revoked September 2008 • Interstate Helicopters reached settlement with FAA, gained new Part 135 certificate in January 2009

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