A B737-500 aft entry door escape slide cable was rerouted incorrectly.

Attributes
ACN	633753
Time
Date	200405
Day	Tue
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician other personnel other
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
ASRS Report	633753
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : inspector
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated other other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : unqualified personnel performance deficiency : training performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Environmental Factor Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

The following statement in regards to letter received by the FAA on an investigation on the rerouting of a cable on aft entry emergency exit slide. On may/tue/04, I was working in 'B/C' check as an apprentice aircraft mechanic in the second phase of the program. On the same date I was working on aircraft off a non routine card for rerouting a cable on the aft entry door. I asked the inspector specifically what the problem with the door was and was giving directions by him on how to fix the cable to satisfy the write-up. I was told that I could remove the slide from the door or perform the task with the slide on the door. I was also instructed it would be easier to remove the screw and nut from the cable to the latch to reduce time spent on correcting the problem. I rerouted the cable as he instructed me. I do understand the importance of emergency equipment and since have re-familiarized myself with this process in the manual and have also reviewed tip dated oct/tue/02 on the routing of cable for the emergency exit door. Also I have reviewed maintenance training course evacuate/evacuation slide videotape training again to be familiar with maintenance practices performed by carrier mechanics.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-500 AFT ENTRY DOOR ESCAPE SLIDE CABLE WAS REROUTED INCORRECTLY.

Narrative: THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO LETTER RECEIVED BY THE FAA ON AN INVESTIGATION ON THE REROUTING OF A CABLE ON AFT ENTRY EMER EXIT SLIDE. ON MAY/TUE/04, I WAS WORKING IN 'B/C' CHK AS AN APPRENTICE ACFT MECH IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROGRAM. ON THE SAME DATE I WAS WORKING ON ACFT OFF A NON ROUTINE CARD FOR REROUTING A CABLE ON THE AFT ENTRY DOOR. I ASKED THE INSPECTOR SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE PROB WITH THE DOOR WAS AND WAS GIVING DIRECTIONS BY HIM ON HOW TO FIX THE CABLE TO SATISFY THE WRITE-UP. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD REMOVE THE SLIDE FROM THE DOOR OR PERFORM THE TASK WITH THE SLIDE ON THE DOOR. I WAS ALSO INSTRUCTED IT WOULD BE EASIER TO REMOVE THE SCREW AND NUT FROM THE CABLE TO THE LATCH TO REDUCE TIME SPENT ON CORRECTING THE PROB. I REROUTED THE CABLE AS HE INSTRUCTED ME. I DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EMER EQUIP AND SINCE HAVE RE-FAMILIARIZED MYSELF WITH THIS PROCESS IN THE MANUAL AND HAVE ALSO REVIEWED TIP DATED OCT/TUE/02 ON THE ROUTING OF CABLE FOR THE EMER EXIT DOOR. ALSO I HAVE REVIEWED MAINT TRAINING COURSE EVAC SLIDE VIDEOTAPE TRAINING AGAIN TO BE FAMILIAR WITH MAINT PRACTICES PERFORMED BY CARRIER MECHS.

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.