Smoky Mountain Air Charter Service

Part 135 operator · designator Y3KA

Data confidence: Records are linked by certificate number, aircraft registration, or a name match that a reviewer has confirmed. Each record below shows how it was linked.

Also recorded as: SMOKY MOUNTAIN AIR CHARTER SERVICE, Smoky Mountain Air Charter Service

Accident & enforcement record

Events that happened, regardless of the operator's own reporting. Each links to its public source.

NTSB accidents & incidents

No NTSB accidents or incidents linked to this operator.

FAA enforcement actions

Certificate revoked · 2023-06-13 Name match — reviewer confirmed
Flight operationsAir carrier / commercial operator

Sanction not stated · case closed 2025-01-10

Source: FAA case 2023CE190019

Maintenance disclosure history

Service Difficulty Reports are self-reported maintenance findings. The NUMBER of reports is not a measure of reliability — diligent operators file more, not fewer. These are shown for transparency, not as a negative signal. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.

Reports span 2012–2012. Most-reported systems: Flight controls (27) — 1. Most-common natures of condition, as filed: FLT CONT AFFECTED — 1.

1 report on file.

FLT CONT AFFECTED · 2012-02-01 Matched by certificate designator
N969WA · ATA 2710

Part: SEAL — FROZEN (AILERONS GAP) · airframe 5,087 hrs

DEPARTED AND CLIMBED THROUGH MODERATE TO HEAVY PARTICIPATION FOR 10-15 MINUTES, LEVELED OFF AT 9,000 FT WHICH WAS AN ALTITUDE THAT WAS BELOW FREEZING. SET AUTOPILOT FOR STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, NOTICED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS VEERING OFF THE HEADING AND BEGINNING TO ENTER A SLIGHT BANK. SHUT OFF THE AUTOPILOT AND LEVELED THE PLANE BUT NOTICED THAT THE AILERON CONTROL SEEM VERY STIFF. PULLED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE AUTOPILOT AND ELECTRIC TRIM TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE DISENGAGED. AFTER ABOUT 4 TO 5 MORE MINUTES IN LEVEL FLIGHT THE AILERONS WENT FROM BEING VERY STIFF TO COMPLETELY FROZEN. FORCED TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE WITH RUDDER AND ELEVATOR INPUTS ONLY. LATER IN THE FLIGHT, DURING DESCENT TO ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES THE AILERON CONTROLS SLOWLY RETURNED AND A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION ON THE GROUND REVEALED NO AILERON CONTROL ABNORMALITIES. BELIEVE THAT THE PRECIPITATION ENCOUNTERED DURING THE CLIMB FROZE THE AILERON TO THE GAP SEALS WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. CALLED THE STC HOLDER TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED NOTIFICATION OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GAP SEALS UNDER RAIN AND FREEZING CONDITIONS. THIS SAFETY HAZARD COULD EASILY LEAD TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACFT CONTROL AND FATALITIES IF NOT ADDRESSED WITH THE STC HOLDER OR IN AN AD.

Source: SDR 2012FA0000089

Linked aircraft

N-numberMake / modelYearStatusLink basis
N5446GCESSNA 340A1979Valid RegistrationMatched by certificate designator

Aircraft with earlier records under this certificate

Maintenance and accident records on this page also cover aircraft that are not in this operator's current FAA fleet list. Charter and management fleets change — owners switch management companies, sell, or export aircraft. Where the registry shows what became of a tail, it is noted below.

  • N969WA (PIPER PA-34-200T) — records 2012 · registered to MILOUD CHADD K (owner ≠ operator)