Aviation Repair Station Owner Convicted of Improper Repair and Service of Aircraft Propellers

Office of Inspector General

Title:	Aviation Repair Station Owner Convicted of Improper Repair and Service of Aircraft Propellers
Date:	June 21, 2007
Type:	Investigation
Summary:	On June 21, former aviation repair station owner, John W. Downs, was found guilty of charges of fraud and making false statements involving aircraft parts following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Dallas, Texas. Downs owned Millennium Propeller System, Inc., a now-defunct aircraft propeller maintenance business in Lancaster, Texas. According to testimony at trial, Downs and his company made undocumented alterations to propellers on aircraft used for non-commercial use, installed unserviceable parts on aircraft propellers, and continued to perform repairs after the company's repair station certificate had been revoked. Sentencing is scheduled for September 21.