WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $175,000 civil penalty against Empyreal Jet of Houston for allegedly operating a Raytheon Hawker 800 jet when it was not airworthy following improper maintenance. 

An inspection in September 2022 found cracks in the skin of the jet’s rudder. In October 2022, Empyreal reinstalled the damaged rudder and subsequently operated the plane on approximately 31 revenue flights. Empyreal personnel entered in a maintenance log that they had replaced the rudder when in fact they reinstalled the original damaged part, the FAA alleges. 

Empyreal has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.