A B727-200 was dispatched with an aileron control tab trailing edge delamination out of limits.

Attributes
ACN	403465
Time
Date	199804
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other oversight : supervisor
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	403465
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

ZZZ foreman called for deferral of working rivet (1 each) and edge delamination on aileron trim tab. Foreman stated rivet was smoking and delamination was in limits per structural repair manual for deferral for repair. Instructed foreman to verify in limits and make interim repair. Limit time to 25 hours for repair. While researching similar problem, found reference given states limitations do not apply to aileron trim tabs. Foreman either did not see note or missed limitations of damage to trim tabs. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the foreman had the correct aileron damage limits section in the structural repair manual and the item was given the approval to continue deferred for 25 hours. The reporter said the manual was rechked later and the notation found that stated no aileron tab damage allowed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 WAS DISPATCHED WITH AN AILERON CTL TAB TRAILING EDGE DELAMINATION OUT OF LIMITS.

Narrative: ZZZ FOREMAN CALLED FOR DEFERRAL OF WORKING RIVET (1 EACH) AND EDGE DELAMINATION ON AILERON TRIM TAB. FOREMAN STATED RIVET WAS SMOKING AND DELAMINATION WAS IN LIMITS PER STRUCTURAL REPAIR MANUAL FOR DEFERRAL FOR REPAIR. INSTRUCTED FOREMAN TO VERIFY IN LIMITS AND MAKE INTERIM REPAIR. LIMIT TIME TO 25 HRS FOR REPAIR. WHILE RESEARCHING SIMILAR PROB, FOUND REF GIVEN STATES LIMITATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO AILERON TRIM TABS. FOREMAN EITHER DID NOT SEE NOTE OR MISSED LIMITATIONS OF DAMAGE TO TRIM TABS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE FOREMAN HAD THE CORRECT AILERON DAMAGE LIMITS SECTION IN THE STRUCTURAL REPAIR MANUAL AND THE ITEM WAS GIVEN THE APPROVAL TO CONTINUE DEFERRED FOR 25 HRS. THE RPTR SAID THE MANUAL WAS RECHKED LATER AND THE NOTATION FOUND THAT STATED NO AILERON TAB DAMAGE ALLOWED.

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.