Aircraft maintenance discrepancies and aircraft equipment problems.

Attributes
ACN	202046
Time
Date	199202
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6900 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	202046
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other personnel other other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I have had 2 events involving my private flying of my small aircraft low winger that could have led to a serious accident. In both cases I was lucky or skillful and avoided an incident. Both involved problems after avionics maintenance. The first incident happened in 1987. I had a new transponder installed by facility mechanic. A few flts later making a crosswind landing, the elevator jammed just prior to the flare. Brut force overcame it and aircraft wasn't damaged. Transponder was not strapped in properly and binding only occurred at rear fully aft with right aileron in. The mechanic was glad to strap unit in properly but of course would make no entry in logbook. This yr my aircraft had been in for a transponder and pitot static certification, 5 months being were required for this job! I finally got my aircraft back from maintenance facility to find a new altimeter was installed without informing me. Due to the age of my altimeter I'm sure this was needed. After checking the logbook, and paying the $625 I decided on a quickie test flight. Surprise! The kollsman knob could not be turned, it would not budge! The knurled knob was jammed rock tight against the plastic instrument panel cover. A simple fix. Both these cases emphasize the need for a complete operations check after avionics maintenance. Look, turn, feel, operate and turn again, look at all areas involved in the installation as well as all system. This could save your aircraft and life.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT MAINT DISCREPANCIES AND ACFT EQUIP PROBLEMS.

Narrative: I HAVE HAD 2 EVENTS INVOLVING MY PRIVATE FLYING OF MY SMA LOW WINGER THAT COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN BOTH CASES I WAS LUCKY OR SKILLFUL AND AVOIDED AN INCIDENT. BOTH INVOLVED PROBLEMS AFTER AVIONICS MAINT. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN 1987. I HAD A NEW TRANSPONDER INSTALLED BY FACILITY MECH. A FEW FLTS LATER MAKING A XWIND LNDG, THE ELEVATOR JAMMED JUST PRIOR TO THE FLARE. BRUT FORCE OVERCAME IT AND ACFT WASN'T DAMAGED. TRANSPONDER WAS NOT STRAPPED IN PROPERLY AND BINDING ONLY OCCURRED AT REAR FULLY AFT WITH R AILERON IN. THE MECH WAS GLAD TO STRAP UNIT IN PROPERLY BUT OF COURSE WOULD MAKE NO ENTRY IN LOGBOOK. THIS YR MY ACFT HAD BEEN IN FOR A TRANSPONDER AND PITOT STATIC CERTIFICATION, 5 MONTHS BEING WERE REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB! I FINALLY GOT MY ACFT BACK FROM MAINT FACILITY TO FIND A NEW ALTIMETER WAS INSTALLED WITHOUT INFORMING ME. DUE TO THE AGE OF MY ALTIMETER I'M SURE THIS WAS NEEDED. AFTER CHKING THE LOGBOOK, AND PAYING THE $625 I DECIDED ON A QUICKIE TEST FLT. SURPRISE! THE KOLLSMAN KNOB COULD NOT BE TURNED, IT WOULD NOT BUDGE! THE KNURLED KNOB WAS JAMMED ROCK TIGHT AGAINST THE PLASTIC INST PANEL COVER. A SIMPLE FIX. BOTH THESE CASES EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE OPS CHK AFTER AVIONICS MAINT. LOOK, TURN, FEEL, OPERATE AND TURN AGAIN, LOOK AT ALL AREAS INVOLVED IN THE INSTALLATION AS WELL AS ALL SYS. THIS COULD SAVE YOUR ACFT AND LIFE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.