Horizon Air is facing a potential $1 million fine from the Federal Aviation Administration for the use of a rivet that in at least two cases caused damage to wiring, airline officials said Wednesday.
Bobbie Egan, a spokeswoman for Alaska Airlines, Horizon's corporate parent, said that it was not a safety issue.
Horizon, which has served the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport since 2007, discovered the problem in 2011 when the damaged wiring tripped a circuit breaker, Egan said.
The problem occurred on the airline's turboprop aircraft, which are used in Sonoma County service, as part of modifications to allow for strengthened security doors between the cockpit and the passenger area.
Egan said that as part of the modifications, the bracket for a pump handle was moved and fastened with what is called a "blind rivet" instead of a solid rivet.
Horizon chose the rivet when it made the modifications beginning in 2003 because it was much stronger than the solid rivet, but the FAA has since ruled that use of the rivet was improper.
After the problem was found on the one plane, which was on a non-passenger flight to Portland, Ore., inspections were made on all of the modified aircraft and one was found with worn wiring insulation.
The modification had been made to 22 of the 50 planes in the Horizon fleet of turboprop aircraft, which have all since been repaired with the proper rivets, Egan said.
"At no time was safety compromised or integrity of flight deck door," Egan said. "Horizon is working with the FAA to discuss the proposed civil penalty."
(You can reach Staff Writer Bob Norberg at 521-5206 or bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com.)
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