Free Status Report - District Court of Arizona - Arizona

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PAUL K. CHARLTON United States Attorney District of Arizona Reid C. Pixler Assistant U.S. Attorney Arizona State Bar No. 12850 Two Renaissance Square 40 North Central, Suite 1200 Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4408 Telephone: (602) 514-7500 [email protected]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF ARIZONA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

9 Plaintiff, 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Defendants. v. 1. Lear Jet, Model 31A, Serial Number 31A-224, U.S. Registration # N224LJ;

CIV-04-363-PHX-JWS STATUS REPORT AIRWORTHINESS OF DEFENDANT NUMBER 1

Pursuant to the Order entered in this action regarding the interlocutory sale of defendant number one, plaintiff files this report. On November 18, 2005, the undersigned received the status report attached hereto and incorporated by this reference as Exhibit A. The aircraft has been moved to a repair facility; the engines have been removed and sent to a location for evaluation, maintenance, and repair; and the evaluation of the systems present on the airframe are continuing. Plaintiff will continue to provide periodic updates regarding the progress of the repair of the aircraft as similar bulletins or reports are received. Respectfully submitted this 18th day of November, 2005.

PAUL K. CHARLTON United States Attorney District of Arizona S/ Reid C. Pixler REID C. PIXLER Assistant U.S. Attorney

Case 2:04-cv-00363-JWS

Document 135

Filed 11/18/2005

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EXHIBIT A STATUS REPORT LEARJET 31A S/N 224, SEIZURE NO. (2002-5210-000082-01-001) Initial power-on checks of avionics and electrical systems were being performed on 11-03-05 and 11-04-05, with initial results encouraging. However, more detailed operational checks of these systems will be required once the aircraft is moved to the hanger. Fuel tanks were topped off on 11-03-05 to check for fuel leaks prior to de-fueling and moving the aircraft to the hanger. Fuel stains were noted around 6/8 screws securing fuel vent fittings, which are located in the bottom of the wings. These are relatively minor discrepancies that can be corrected once the aircraft is de-fueled and moved to the hanger. The work package (inspection sheets/documentation) for completing the inspections and repairs has been prepared by the BAS Scheduling Department and is now on the floor. Preparations for the removal of engines were scheduled for the evening of 11-04-05. Mr. Cantin of BAS contacted the engine repair shop to emphasize the importance of expediting the turn around time for the engines. He was given a turn around time of 40 to 60 days depending on findings after tear down of the engines. The removal and shipment of the engines to the repair shop will be given priority during the coming week. The BAS Project Manager for this aircraft is currently preparing a schedule for the work to be performed on the aircraft. He is to provide me a copy of the schedule on 11-08-05. The aircraft was de-fueled during the morning of 11-07-05 and moved to the hanger. The removal of access panels necessary to perform the A/B/C inspections was started, and the aircraft was jacked and leveled in preparation of performing a landing gear retraction check. The retraction check was performed in order to identify any leaks or problems with the system prior to removing the landing gears for shipment to a repair facility. No visible problems were noted during the retraction test. Engines were removed and prepared for shipment during the week. The engines were shipped to the repair facility during the evening of 11-10-05. Landing gear components were removed during the week and prepared for shipment on 11-11-05. Approximately 70 percent of the A/B/C inspection items were completed by the end of the week. However, several of these items cannot be completed until the engines are returned from the repair facility and installed on the aircraft. Operational and functional tests of several of the avionics systems were performed during the week with overall good results.

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Mr. Tom Heavey, the BAS Program Supervisor assigned to this aircraft provided a schedule for the aircraft on 11-11-05. The schedule has a completion date of 01-1606. However, the major factor in determining the completion of the aircraft will be the turn around time for the engines, which was estimated to be from 40 to 60 days. The discouraging news for the week is that after reviewing the results of the prism check of the windshields, Learjet Engineering has determined that both windshields must be replaced to make the aircraft airworthy. The replacement of the windshields is a big-ticket item with an estimated cost of $110,180.00 for replacement of both windshields (See item 3.3.25 of BAS Proposal). After receiving a copy of the engineering response, EG&G requested that BAS contact their W arranty and Customer Relations Departments regarding the windshields. After reviewing the response from Learjet Engineering it appears that the discoloration and crazing of the plies in the left windshield is caused by the ProSeal sealant used in installing the windshield. This appears to be acknowledged by their Engineering Department since their maintenance Manual was changed to require use of a different sealant. In addition, the total time on this aircraft is only 432.7 hours. In accordance with Maintenance Manual Section 5-10-29, page 6, IRN G5610023, the initial inspection of windshields is not required until 600 flight hours or 600 hours after windshield replacement. This requirement is based on flight hours, and not calendar time.

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I.I hereby certify that on November 18, 2005, I electronically transmitted the attached document to the Clerk's Office using the CM/ECF System for filing and transmittal of a Notice of Electronic Filing to the following CM/ECF registrants: Allen B Bickart Law Office of Allen B Bickart PO Box 44005 Phoenix, AZ 85064 [email protected] Douglas F Behm Jennings Strouss & Salmon PLC Collier Ctr 201 E W ashington St, Ste 1100 Phoenix, AZ 85004-2385 [email protected]

9I hereby certify that on November 18, 2005, I served the attached document by U.S. mail, who are not registered

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participants of the CM/ECF System: Marc S. Nurik Ruden McClosky Smith Schuster & Russell, PA PO Box 1900 Ft Lauderdale, FL 33302 Gerald H Goldstein, Cynthia Eva Hujar Orr Goldstein Goldstein & Hilley 2900 Tower Life Bldg 310 S St Mary's St, Ste 2900 San Antonio, TX 78205 Leonard J M cDonald, Jr Tiffany & Bosco PA Camelback Esplanade II 2525 E Camelback Rd 3rd Floor Phoenix, AZ 85016 K Lawson Pedigo Miller Keffer & Pedigo 8401 N Central Expressway , Ste 630 Dallas, TX 75225 Mark A Platt Fulbright & Jaworski LLP 2200 Ross Ave , Ste 2800 Dallas, TX 75201

S/

Regina Spurlock

Case 2:04-cv-00363-JWS

Document 135

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