Shorts SD-330
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300; Flight Crew Total 8500; Flight Crew Type 6000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Work Refused
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure; Logbook Entry; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
My airline is a Part 121 and 135 Air Carrier that operates Shorts SD3 aircraft in both passenger and cargo operations. Presently their passenger service has been down for over seven months due to an engine seizure during taxi in passenger operation. The company has no money to fix the engine. Prior to that engine seizure the company has had at least six engine failures and precautionary shutdowns in flight. A couple of months ago I did a preflight inspection and found the following items to be inoperative: 1. Fire fault right test failed; 2. GPWS test failed; 3. Left and right air condition bleeds were inoperative; 4. Pitot heat was inoperative; 5. The gyro for HSI was inoperative. These items were reported to Maintenance and I was told that the company has no money or parts to fix the problem. I was forced to fly the airplane! A week later I resigned my position as Chief Pilot; also the Director of Maintenance and Director of Safety resigned because of safety. I had received reports that this airline was using automobile gas in their piston engine airplanes. I continue to see this same airplane flying and I am sure it is not airworthy. The airline's General Manager has no regard for safety and is a bully. Many other pilots feel powerless which has resulted in our resignations and report to your office.
The Chief Pilot of a cargo/freight/passenger air carrier operation operating Shorts SD3 aircraft resigned his position and alleges the company; due to lack of parts and resources; has failed to maintain their aircraft in an airworthy condition.