A B737-300 was reported by an FAA safety inspector that #2 engine had a small oil puddle on ground. Technician ran engine, checked history for oil added and checked oil level, all found ok. Inspector believed cowling should have been opened.

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Attributes
ACN	491927
Time
Date	200011
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
Experience	maintenance technician : 11
ASRS Report	491927
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Independent Detector	other other : person 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : fault isolation performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance FAA Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

A line check by FAA inspector of an airlines B737-300 aircraft #xyz revealed a small puddle of oil under the right engine. When I arrived at aircraft, I proceeded to clean the right engine cowling and check all fluid levels. I then went to the cockpit and powered up the aircraft, after which I checked the right engine oil quantity gauge. The right engine oil quantity was reading 92% full. I then reviewed the aircraft logbook for any history of oil usage or excessive oil servicing, there was no history at all. After approximately 30 mins I rechked the right engine cowl and it was still dry, I then concluded there was no oil leak. The FAA inspector questioned the fact that I did not open the engine cowl to inspect for leaks. I did not feel there was sufficient evidence of a leak to warrant opening the cowl.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 WAS RPTED BY AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR THAT #2 ENG HAD A SMALL OIL PUDDLE ON GND. TECHNICIAN RAN ENG, CHKED HISTORY FOR OIL ADDED AND CHKED OIL LEVEL, ALL FOUND OK. INSPECTOR BELIEVED COWLING SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPENED.

Narrative: A LINE CHK BY FAA INSPECTOR OF AN AIRLINES B737-300 ACFT #XYZ REVEALED A SMALL PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER THE R ENG. WHEN I ARRIVED AT ACFT, I PROCEEDED TO CLEAN THE R ENG COWLING AND CHK ALL FLUID LEVELS. I THEN WENT TO THE COCKPIT AND POWERED UP THE ACFT, AFTER WHICH I CHKED THE R ENG OIL QUANTITY GAUGE. THE R ENG OIL QUANTITY WAS READING 92% FULL. I THEN REVIEWED THE ACFT LOGBOOK FOR ANY HISTORY OF OIL USAGE OR EXCESSIVE OIL SVCING, THERE WAS NO HISTORY AT ALL. AFTER APPROX 30 MINS I RECHKED THE R ENG COWL AND IT WAS STILL DRY, I THEN CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK. THE FAA INSPECTOR QUESTIONED THE FACT THAT I DID NOT OPEN THE ENG COWL TO INSPECT FOR LEAKS. I DID NOT FEEL THERE WAS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF A LEAK TO WARRANT OPENING THE COWL.

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.