Hilario Hernandez, owner and chief inspector of Max Avionics, an FAA-authorized aircraft repair station in Miami, has pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Miami for fraudulently certifying that aircraft parts were approved for return to service. According to the indictment, Max Avionics and Hernandez accepted aircraft parts from various customers to conduct repairs and return them to service.

However, a number of those aircraft parts were not on the company’s FAA-approved capability list authorizing it to perform those repairs. Despite not having this authorization, Hernandez completed the maintenance release forms, fraudulently certifying that those repaired parts were ready to be installed on an aircraft.

Prosecuters also allege that Hernandez made false statements to FAA inspectors in furtherance of these violations. In an interview with AIN, Hernandez neither denied nor confirmed guilt but referred to a letter he sent to the FAA explaining he entered into the plea agreement to ensure that his company would not be shut down.