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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.
| 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.