The FAA last week proposed a $547,500 civil penalty against Hawaiian Airlines for operating a Boeing 767-300 “more than 5,000 times” when the aircraft was not in compliance with a July 2000 airworthiness directive (AD). The AD required inspections of certain engine thrust reverser components to prevent a portion of the device from separating in flight and causing a rapid decompression of the aircraft. It also mandated initial and repetitive inspections of the components to detect damage and wear, and to take corrective actions if necessary. If replacement was deemed necessary, the components were to be replaced with new and improved parts by July 2004.

During a July 2012 inspection, however, the FAA discovered that some of Hawaiian’s records incorrectly showed that the AD did not apply to one particular Boeing 767 in the airline’s fleet.

The FAA further alleges Hawaiian operated the aircraft on 14 passenger flights even after the agency alerted the carrier to the error, and that the airline failed to keep required records of the status of the AD for the aircraft in question.