<< >> NASA ASRS Report 511530, May 2001

A B737-500 is released for service after the red navigation light was replaced but prior to the 30 mins drying time required for the sealant around the light at den, co.

Attributes
ACN	511530
Time
Date	200105
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lou.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
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 : powerplant technician : airframe
ASRS Report	511530
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : gnd 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : briefing contributing factor : engineering procedure contributing factor : schedule pressure contributing factor : work cards performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft abcd arrived denver at XC58 and was due to depart at XC40 to vancouver. Our maintenance controller called to advise the gate mechanic that the red navigation light was out. The maintenance controller said we could sign the sealant off by using tma 37821. The supervisor then said it was also ok to sign the replacement of the navigation light. This paperwork that they presented to use was not applicable to the B737-500, but we didn't realize that until after the aircraft had already left. Management had us dispatch an aircraft without giving the 30 mins for the sealant fumes to dissipate. Per the maintenance manual, when a navigation light is replaced, the terminals have to be sealed, and they want you to wait 30 mins so sealant fumes dissipate in case there is a spark coming from the terminals. We were pressured to dispatch this aircraft to prevent a delay.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-500 IS RELEASED FOR SVC AFTER THE RED NAV LIGHT WAS REPLACED BUT PRIOR TO THE 30 MINS DRYING TIME REQUIRED FOR THE SEALANT AROUND THE LIGHT AT DEN, CO.

Narrative: ACFT ABCD ARRIVED DENVER AT XC58 AND WAS DUE TO DEPART AT XC40 TO VANCOUVER. OUR MAINT CTLR CALLED TO ADVISE THE GATE MECH THAT THE RED NAV LIGHT WAS OUT. THE MAINT CTLR SAID WE COULD SIGN THE SEALANT OFF BY USING TMA 37821. THE SUPVR THEN SAID IT WAS ALSO OK TO SIGN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NAV LIGHT. THIS PAPERWORK THAT THEY PRESENTED TO USE WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE B737-500, BUT WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT HAD ALREADY LEFT. MGMNT HAD US DISPATCH AN ACFT WITHOUT GIVING THE 30 MINS FOR THE SEALANT FUMES TO DISSIPATE. PER THE MAINT MANUAL, WHEN A NAV LIGHT IS REPLACED, THE TERMINALS HAVE TO BE SEALED, AND THEY WANT YOU TO WAIT 30 MINS SO SEALANT FUMES DISSIPATE IN CASE THERE IS A SPARK COMING FROM THE TERMINALS. WE WERE PRESSURED TO DISPATCH THIS ACFT TO PREVENT A DELAY.

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.