Narrative:

I am a mechanic for a commuter airline based in bil. I have worked here for 3 1/2 yrs and have a total of 4 yrs as an aircraft mechanic. On a night in 10/89, I reported to work and was assigned a preflight on an small transport. During the preflight I noticed a small amount of hydraulic fluid on the lower fitting of the right main gear-up lock activator. I removed the fitting from the valve and inspected the 'O'-ring for damage. Finding no damage I reassembled the fitting to the valve, also reinstalling a ball and spring which had come out with the fitting. The following day on the aircraft's first flight, the right main gear would not lock down. The aircraft returned to bil where it made a landing on which the right main gear collapsed during rollout. There were no injuries upon landing. I have informed my supervisors of my actions and will be part of the investigation into the incident. I feel my actions may well be the cause of the gear failure due to improper reassembly of the uplock activator, and failure to follow proper procedures. In addition, I made several mistakes in following the proper procedures as called out by company maintenance manuals. I failed to enter a discrepancy on a mechanic's discrepancy list. I did not use proper maintenance manual reviews. I did not perform a gear retraction following reassembly of the activator. I feel very fortunate that only the aircraft was damaged and no injuries sustained by passenger or crew. I realize the consequences of my actions will be severe, but I hope to retain my a&P license and continue to work in the aviation industry.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNABLE TO LOWER RIGHT MAIN LNDG GEAR AFTER MAINTENANCE FOR HYDRAULIC LEAK.

Narrative: I AM A MECH FOR A COMMUTER AIRLINE BASED IN BIL. I HAVE WORKED HERE FOR 3 1/2 YRS AND HAVE A TOTAL OF 4 YRS AS AN ACFT MECH. ON A NIGHT IN 10/89, I RPTED TO WORK AND WAS ASSIGNED A PREFLT ON AN SMT. DURING THE PREFLT I NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF HYD FLUID ON THE LOWER FITTING OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR-UP LOCK ACTIVATOR. I REMOVED THE FITTING FROM THE VALVE AND INSPECTED THE 'O'-RING FOR DAMAGE. FINDING NO DAMAGE I REASSEMBLED THE FITTING TO THE VALVE, ALSO REINSTALLING A BALL AND SPRING WHICH HAD COME OUT WITH THE FITTING. THE FOLLOWING DAY ON THE ACFT'S FIRST FLT, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WOULD NOT LOCK DOWN. THE ACFT RETURNED TO BIL WHERE IT MADE A LNDG ON WHICH THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING ROLLOUT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES UPON LNDG. I HAVE INFORMED MY SUPVRS OF MY ACTIONS AND WILL BE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT. I FEEL MY ACTIONS MAY WELL BE THE CAUSE OF THE GEAR FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER REASSEMBLY OF THE UPLOCK ACTIVATOR, AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCS. IN ADDITION, I MADE SEVERAL MISTAKES IN FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROCS AS CALLED OUT BY COMPANY MAINT MANUALS. I FAILED TO ENTER A DISCREPANCY ON A MECH'S DISCREPANCY LIST. I DID NOT USE PROPER MAINT MANUAL REVIEWS. I DID NOT PERFORM A GEAR RETRACTION FOLLOWING REASSEMBLY OF THE ACTIVATOR. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT ONLY THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED AND NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY PAX OR CREW. I REALIZE THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY ACTIONS WILL BE SEVERE, BUT I HOPE TO RETAIN MY A&P LICENSE AND CONTINUE TO WORK IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.