A DHC8 during a preflight check was found to have the underwing emergency exit doors installed incor...

Attributes
ACN	492087
Time
Date	200011
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 9300 flight time type : 6200
ASRS Report	492087
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : person 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

We flew the aircraft 4 legs. The first officer preflted the aircraft before dawn and did 3 subsequent postflt walkarounds in daylight. When we turned over the plane to the next crew, after our flying was over, the incoming first officer did a preflight. The incoming first officer came onto the aircraft and advised me that it appeared our underwing emergency exit was damaged. I looked at the exit, and then walked around to the other underwing emergency exit, and observed that the emergency exits were each on the wrong side. The mechanics installed them incorrectly during the last maintenance inspection. I was about the 3RD or 4TH crew to fly that aircraft and nobody noticed this. It had flown 2 days in this confign. I don't know how the first officer missed this on 4 separate walkarounds other than complacency. I, as captain, also could have done at least 1 walkaround as a check but did not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DHC8 DURING A PREFLT CHK WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE UNDERWING EMER EXIT DOORS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY SWAPPED.

Narrative: WE FLEW THE ACFT 4 LEGS. THE FO PREFLTED THE ACFT BEFORE DAWN AND DID 3 SUBSEQUENT POSTFLT WALKAROUNDS IN DAYLIGHT. WHEN WE TURNED OVER THE PLANE TO THE NEXT CREW, AFTER OUR FLYING WAS OVER, THE INCOMING FO DID A PREFLT. THE INCOMING FO CAME ONTO THE ACFT AND ADVISED ME THAT IT APPEARED OUR UNDERWING EMER EXIT WAS DAMAGED. I LOOKED AT THE EXIT, AND THEN WALKED AROUND TO THE OTHER UNDERWING EMER EXIT, AND OBSERVED THAT THE EMER EXITS WERE EACH ON THE WRONG SIDE. THE MECHS INSTALLED THEM INCORRECTLY DURING THE LAST MAINT INSPECTION. I WAS ABOUT THE 3RD OR 4TH CREW TO FLY THAT ACFT AND NOBODY NOTICED THIS. IT HAD FLOWN 2 DAYS IN THIS CONFIGN. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE FO MISSED THIS ON 4 SEPARATE WALKAROUNDS OTHER THAN COMPLACENCY. I, AS CAPT, ALSO COULD HAVE DONE AT LEAST 1 WALKAROUND AS A CHK BUT DID NOT.

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.

A DHC8 during a preflight check was found to have the underwing emergency exit doors installed incorrectly swapped.