Narrative:

On aircraft X I was given a 'minor write up' to repair a safety lanyard tab. Normal procedure is to have lead process, recommend action and cite maintenance manual reference. After mechanic completes repairs, inspectors buy off. In this case of a minor write-up, the mechanic designs the repair, performs work, and approves his own work. There is no inspection buy-back. In this case I removed the old part, a titanium tab about 1 inch long, fabricated a new one of stainless steel and reinstalled. It was a good repair and very safe, but the FAA could find fault with my lack of maintenance manual citation. I am concerned that the lack of guidelines or limits over 'minor write-ups' has the potential to cause a maintenance error. Too many steps in the established process have been removed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS 320 TECHNICIAN RPTS JOBS CLASSIFIED AS 'MINOR REPAIRS' AND ACCOMPLISHED BY TECHNICIANS ARE NOT INSPECTED AFTER COMPLETION.

Narrative: ON ACFT X I WAS GIVEN A 'MINOR WRITE UP' TO REPAIR A SAFETY LANYARD TAB. NORMAL PROC IS TO HAVE LEAD PROCESS, RECOMMEND ACTION AND CITE MAINT MANUAL REF. AFTER MECH COMPLETES REPAIRS, INSPECTORS BUY OFF. IN THIS CASE OF A MINOR WRITE-UP, THE MECH DESIGNS THE REPAIR, PERFORMS WORK, AND APPROVES HIS OWN WORK. THERE IS NO INSPECTION BUY-BACK. IN THIS CASE I REMOVED THE OLD PART, A TITANIUM TAB ABOUT 1 INCH LONG, FABRICATED A NEW ONE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND REINSTALLED. IT WAS A GOOD REPAIR AND VERY SAFE, BUT THE FAA COULD FIND FAULT WITH MY LACK OF MAINT MANUAL CITATION. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LACK OF GUIDELINES OR LIMITS OVER 'MINOR WRITE-UPS' HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A MAINT ERROR. TOO MANY STEPS IN THE ESTABLISHED PROCESS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

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.