Sawyer Aviation LLC

Part 135 operator · designator SVGA

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: SAWYER AVIATION LLC, Sawyer Aviation, Sawyer Aviation LLC

Accident & enforcement record

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

NTSB accidents & incidents

Accident · 2016-03-06 Operator named in NTSB report
CESSNA 172 (N6023V) No injuries Part 91

Operated by Sawyer Aviation (per NTSB report)

The failure of the student pilot to maintain pitch control while landing, which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and runway excursion.

Source: NTSB case GAA16CA187
Accident · 2006-02-03 Operator named in NTSB report
Cessna R182 (N88AA) No injuries Part 91

Operated by Sawyer Aviation LLC (per NTSB report)

overload of the nose landing gear actuator attach bracket resulting in collapse of the nose gear while taxiing. It is undetermined when and under what circumstances the overload occurred.

Source: NTSB case LAX06LA101
Accident · 1994-08-13 Operator named in NTSB report
CESSNA 172P (N98909) No injuries Part 91

Operated by SAWYER AVIATION (per NTSB report)

the pilot's misjudging the flare altitude and failing to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. The pilot's lack of total time in the airplane is a factor in this accident.

Source: NTSB case LAX94LA321
Accident · 1993-08-21 Operator named in NTSB report
CESSNA 152 (N6596P) No injuries Part 91

Operated by SAWYER AVIATION (per NTSB report)

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM THE ENSUING BOUNCED LANDING.

Source: NTSB case LAX93LA332
Accident · 1991-11-14 Operator named in NTSB report
CESSNA 152 (N5552M) No injuries Part 91

Operated by SAWYER AVIATION (per NTSB report)

THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND HIS DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION. A FACTOR WAS CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.

Source: NTSB case LAX92LA045
Accident · 1990-11-01 Operator named in NTSB report
CESSNA 152 (N757PZ) No injuries Part 91

Operated by SAWYER AVIATION (per NTSB report)

THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO ENSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WAS MAINTAINED DURING THE FINAL APPROACH FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS; TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT; AND TO ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN.

Source: NTSB case LAX91LA021

FAA enforcement actions

Certificate revoked · 2024-04-10 Name match — reviewer confirmed
Flight operationsAir carrier / commercial operator

Sanction not stated · case closed 2025-04-15

Source: FAA case 2024WP070031
Certificate suspended · 2023-12-11 Name match — reviewer confirmed
Flight operationsAir carrier / commercial operator

Sanction not stated · case closed 2024-05-16

Source: FAA case 2024WP070009
Civil penalty ordered · 2022-08-01 Name match — reviewer confirmed
Drug & alcohol testing programAir carrier / commercial operator

Sanction: $7,500 · case closed 2024-01-30

Source: FAA case 2023WP910028

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 2020–2022. Most-reported systems: Landing gear (32) — 2; Fire protection (26) — 1; Hydraulic power (29) — 1; Doors (52) — 1; Engine air (75) — 1. Most-common natures of condition, as filed: FALSE WARNING — 2; FLUID LOSS — 1; OTHER — 1; VIBRATION/BUFFET — 1; WARNING INDICATION — 1.

6 reports on file.

FALSE WARNING · 2022-08-22 Matched by certificate designator
N67AZ · ATA 3230

Part: NONE — LOOSE (ZONE 500) · airframe 5,229 hrs · 4,599 cycles

UPON CLIMB OUT FROM KSDL THE PILOT SAW A LH GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT. HE THEN CYCLED THE LANDING GEAR AND APPROX. 4 MINUTES LATER HE SAW THE RED GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT AGAIN. HE CYCLED THE LANDING GEAR ONCE MORE AND THE CREW RETURNED TO BASE. - MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOT THE DISCREPANCY AND FOUND THAT THE LH MLG UP-LOCK SUPPORT BRACKET WHICH HOUSES THE UP-LOCK SWITCH TO BE LOOSE CAUSING MOTION SUFFICIENT TO UN-ACTUATE THE UP-LOCK SWITCH. MAINTENANCE CORRECTED THE ISSUE, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED.

Source: SDR 2022F00341
OTHER · 2021-09-20 Matched by certificate designator
N19KM · ATA 5240

Part: LINK — CRACKED (RT DOOR FLAP) · airframe 4,107 hrs · 4,114 cycles

DURING A SCHEDULED INSPECTION THE RH FLAP LINK ASSEMBLY CONNECTING THE INBOARD FLAP TO THE FUSELAGE FAIRING WAS DISCONNECTED AND CRACKED. SEE THE ATTACHED PICTURE. NO DAMAGE TO THE FAIRING WAS FOUND.

Source: SDR SVGA20210806002
FALSE WARNING · 2021-08-03 Matched by certificate designator
N19KM · ATA 2697

Part: CONNECTOR — CORRODED (FIRE DETECTOR) · airframe 3,999 hrs · 3,975 cycles

THIS IS THE 2ND EVENT OF A FALSE FIRE WARNING MESSAGE, 9.5 HOURS & 16 CYCLES SINCE PRIOR EVENT. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 41,000 FT. RH ENGINE FIRE WARNING. CREW DIVERTED TO KBUR AND LANDED. ENGINE WAS SHUTDOWN PRIOR TO LANDING AND THE SINGLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGED. CREW LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND LANDING NO FIRE WAS EVIDENT. FIRE WARNING REMAINED ON EVEN AFTER THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND SHUTDOWN. MAINTENANCE DISPATCHED, ARRIVED ABOUT 3 HOURS AFTER LANDING. AFTER EXAMINING THE ENGINE THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF FIRE. WHEN MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THE FIRE WARNING OPERATIONAL CHECK (390 MM 26-10-00, PARA. 3) PERFORMED AND PASSED. ENGINE FIRE SENSOR CONNECTIONS CHECKED AND INSPECTED FOR FIRE LOOP DAMAGE, NO DEFECTS NOTED. THE FIRE DETECTION CONTROLLER WAS EXAMINED BY REMOVING THE UNIT AND DISCONNECTING THE 2 CONNECTORS. THE RH SYSTEM CONNECTOR 26A1P2 WAS FOUND WITH CORROSION IN THE CONNECTOR. USING CONTACT CLEARER THE CONNECTOR AND SOCKET WERE CLEANED. FIRE DETECTION CONTROLLER INPUTS WERE SWAPPED FOR TROUBLESHOOTING PURPOSES. ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHER REPLACED AND FUNCTIONAL CHECKS COMPLETED. ENGINE RUNS PERFORMED AT 80% POWER FOR 5 MINUTES, NO DEFECTS NOTED. AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE AND FLOWN TO KDVT. NO OTHER FIRE WARNING ANNUNCIATIONS.

Source: SDR SVGA20210806001
WARNING INDICATION · 2021-07-31 Matched by certificate designator
N19KM · ATA 7500

Part: SEAL — LEAKING (BLEED AIR) · airframe 3,989 hrs · 3,959 cycles

RIGHT FIRE LIGHT ON MFD AND RIGHT FIRE PUSH ANNUNCIATOR ILLUMINATED IN FLIGHT AND DID NOT EXTINGUISH. THE DESCENT 100 MILES OUT FROM APA WAS WITH RIGHT ENGINE AT IDLE, WHICH HAD NO EFFECT. ALL ENGINE INDICATORS SUCH AS OIL READINGS REMAINED NORMAL, SHOWING AN ABSENCE OF FIRE. AFTER SHUTDOWN THE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. (PILOTS WRITE UP.) WHEN MAINTENANCE ARRIVED AT THE AIRCRAFT THE NEXT DAY. ENGINE FIRE INDICATION SYSTEM OPERATIONAL CHECK PERFORMED AND PASSED. WHEN CREW ARRIVED TO RUN THE ENGINES TECHNICIAN PERFORMED LEAK CHECK OF THE RH ENGINE BLEED AIR ENGINE SYSTEM. FOUND EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE 'WIGGINS" CLAMP CONNECTING THE "Y" PIPES TOGETHER. THE SEALS THAT WERE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE LEAK ARE PN W932-24E, REF 390 IPC, CHAP 75-10-00-01 ITEMS 95. AFTER THE SEALS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW PERFORMED ANOTHER ENGINE RUN TO 80-% WITH NO LEAKS DETECTED. RECOMMEND ADDING INSPECTION AT ENGINE CHECK 1 INSPECTION TO RUN ENGINES TO 80% AND PERFORM ENGINE BLEED AIR SYSTEM LEAK CHECK.

Source: SDR 2021F00101
FLUID LOSS · 2021-04-15 Matched by certificate designator
N525CD · ATA 2910

Part: HOSE — RUPTURED (HYD SYSTEM) · airframe 6,904 hrs · 6,015 cycles

DURING POST FLIGHT INSPECTION BY PILOT LARGE AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID VISIBLE ON BOTTOM OF FUSELAGE AND LEFT PYLON. PILOT ALSO REPORTED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM RESERVOIR BELOW ADD LINE. UPON INVESTIGATION BY MAINTENANCE THE LH THRUST ATTENUATOR ACTUATOR EXTEND HOSE LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID. HOSE PN AE6203B0185-180, CURE DATE 07-01. HOSE RUPTURED 1/4 INCH FROM ACTUATOR END FITTING. NO ABRASION SLEEVE COVERS THIS AREA OF HOSE. MINOR ABRASION DAMAGE EVIDENT ON SLEEVE APPROX. 5 INCHES FROM ACTUATOR WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN COVERED BY SPIRAL WRAP ABRASION PROTECTION. ALL 4 THRUST ATTENUATOR HOSES REPLACED WITH NEW.

Source: SDR 2021F00073
VIBRATION/BUFFET · 2020-05-22 Matched by certificate designator
N33PJ · ATA 3244

Part: TIRE — BLOWN (RT MLG) · airframe 3,377 hrs · 3,498 cycles

WE TOOK OFF FROM 30C AT KIWA TO KSTS, WHERE OUR RT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE BLEW AFTER PASSING V1 AND CROSSED FROM THE CONCRETE PORTION OF THE RUNWAY TO THE ASPHALT. OUR TAKEOFF WEIGHT WAS 12,500LBS, THE WEATHER WAS VFR AND WE HAD FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD. ON TAKEOFF, WE FELT A THUMP IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY VIBRATION AND THE PLANE YAWING TO THE RIGHT. WE BECAME AIRBORNE AS WE WERE ALREADY COMMITTED TO THE TAKEOFF THEN ADVISED THE TOWER WE HAD AN ISSUE AND NEEDED TO RETURN FOR A LOW APPROACH TO HAVE THEM VISUALLY CONFIRM OUR TIRE WAS BLOWN. WE REQUESTED A LOW APPROACH WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, TOWER CONFIRMED OUR RT TIRE WAS GONE SO WE REQUESTED VECTORS TO BURN OFF FUEL AND WOULD ADVISE WHEN WE WERE READY TO COME BACK IN AND LAND. ONCE ESTABLISHED IN DELAY VECTORS WE ADVISED COMPANY WE HAD AN ISSUE AND SOUGHT ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM ANOTHER COMPANY PILOT AS TO ANY ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS FOR LANDING. I DECIDED I WANTED TO BE AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND SHUT DOWN ALL ENGINES AND SYSTEMS JUST AFTER LANDING. THE 9,500 RUNWAY OF 30R (OUR INTENDED RUNWAY) WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR A NORMAL LANDING. APPROACH VECTORED US FOR A STRAIGHT IN ON 30R WHERE EMERGENCY VEHICLES WERE STANDING BY. WE TOUCHED DOWN AS LIGHTLY AS POSSIBLE SLIGHTLY LEFT OF CENTERLINE TO MAXIMIZE THE AVAILABLE 150’ WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY IN CASE OF DIRECTIONAL ISSUES, ACTIVATED THE LIFT DUMP, AND APPLIED LIGHT BRAKING. NOSE WHEEL STEERING WAS EFFECTIVE FOR AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

Source: SDR SVGA20200527001

Linked aircraft

N-numberMake / modelYearStatusLink basis
N19KMRAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY 3902004Non-citizenMatched by certificate designator
N372BWRAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY 3902005Valid RegistrationMatched by certificate designator
N468ECCESSNA 525B2015Valid RegistrationMatched by certificate designator
N525CDCESSNA 5252000Valid RegistrationMatched by certificate designator
N5552MCESSNA 1521980Valid RegistrationOperator named in NTSB report
N563LCMatched by certificate designator
N600HRCESSNA 5251993Valid RegistrationMatched by certificate designator
N6023VCESSNA 172S2006Valid RegistrationOperator named in NTSB report
N6596PCESSNA 1521981Valid RegistrationOperator named in NTSB report
N67AZCESSNA 5251998Valid RegistrationMatched by certificate designator
N757PZOperator named in NTSB report
N88AAOperator named in NTSB report
N98909Operator named in NTSB report

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.

  • N33PJ — records 2020 · no longer on the FAA registry
  • N6023V (CESSNA 172S) — records 2016 · registered to CHRISTIANSEN AVIATION LLC (owner ≠ operator)
  • N88AA — records 2006 · no longer on the FAA registry
  • N98909 — records 1994 · no longer on the FAA registry
  • N6596P (CESSNA 152) — records 1993 · registered to ACE AIRCRAFT LEASING INC (owner ≠ operator)
  • N5552M (CESSNA 152) — records 1991 · registered to NEW WIND LLC (owner ≠ operator)
  • N757PZ — records 1990 · no longer on the FAA registry