<< >> NASA ASRS Report 521205, July 2001

A B737-300 was returned to service with a suspected crack in the #3 leading edge slat. Crack not verified prior to return to service.

Attributes
ACN	521205
Time
Date	200107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
ASRS Report	521205
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : person 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : fault isolation performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was told by first shift production supervisor and lead inspector/mechanic #3 slat was suspect but not verify that a crack existed in area by non destructive testing high frequency eddy current. I went to area that was pointed out to me and could not find a crack using non destructive testing method high frequency eddy current. Later, the card was brought to me and the area in #3 slat was not the same as the one I was shown by lead mechanic and supervisor. I refused to stamp the card off. This event went nuclear, between inspection forman, the initial inspector, and production forman. I understand the FAA is investigating also.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 WAS RETURNED TO SVC WITH A SUSPECTED CRACK IN THE #3 LEADING EDGE SLAT. CRACK NOT VERIFIED PRIOR TO RETURN TO SVC.

Narrative: I WAS TOLD BY FIRST SHIFT PRODUCTION SUPVR AND LEAD INSPECTOR/MECH #3 SLAT WAS SUSPECT BUT NOT VERIFY THAT A CRACK EXISTED IN AREA BY NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING HIGH FREQ EDDY CURRENT. I WENT TO AREA THAT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME AND COULD NOT FIND A CRACK USING NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING METHOD HIGH FREQ EDDY CURRENT. LATER, THE CARD WAS BROUGHT TO ME AND THE AREA IN #3 SLAT WAS NOT THE SAME AS THE ONE I WAS SHOWN BY LEAD MECH AND SUPVR. I REFUSED TO STAMP THE CARD OFF. THIS EVENT WENT NUCLEAR, BTWN INSPECTION FORMAN, THE INITIAL INSPECTOR, AND PRODUCTION FORMAN. I UNDERSTAND THE FAA IS INVESTIGATING ALSO.

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.