Officials Fined $200,000 to Settle Fraudulent Repair Certificate Case

Office of Inspector General

Title:	Officials Fined $200,000 to Settle Fraudulent Repair Certificate Case
Date:	March 28, 2002
Type:	Investigation
Summary:	Paul D. Finefrock, president of Thunderbird Propellers, Inc., and Thunderbird Accessories, Inc., both of Bethany, OK, and Marvin D. Thurmond, chief inspector for Thunderbird Propellers, each agreed to pay a $100,000 fine to settle a civil suit filed in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City, for their role in falsifying aviation repair certificates. Finefrock also agreed to forfeit his FAA certificate for life. In a related case filed in U.S. District Court in Sherman, TX, both companies pleaded guilty to falsifying repairs—Thunderbird Propellers on 18 occasions involving aircraft propellers and Thunderbird Accessories on an aircraft turbo charger. No sentencing date has been set. The investigation was conducted jointly with the FBI, with assistance from the FAA.