A B777 during an ETOPS check an FAA safety inspector questioned procedure for checking pitot tube an...

Attributes
ACN	656152
Time
Date	200504
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	656152
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

Upon completing ETOPS check inspection on this aircraft X; an FAA inspector questioned item #8; pitot tube; static port; and angle of attack sensor inspection procedure. He asked how I determined the tube had no insect obstruction. I explained that I checked it from the ground. He explained that his interpretation is that you must put a stand up and visually check up close. I explained we were trained that all inspections are done from the ground. We also checked 'a' check and 'B' check paperwork inspection of this pitot tube and it states it is done from the ground. Item #6 on the ETOPS check states general walkaround accomplished from ground level. I feel the ETOPS paperwork is contradictory with item #6 and #8 and 'a' and 'B' checks. Reference work card X 'B' check and 'a' check card a states accomplish from ground. Contradictory information causing entrapment of mechanic -- no specific procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777 DURING AN ETOPS CHK AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR QUESTIONED PROC FOR CHKING PITOT TUBE AND STATIC PORT FOR INSECT OBSTRUCTION FROM GND LEVEL.

Narrative: UPON COMPLETING ETOPS CHK INSPECTION ON THIS ACFT X; AN FAA INSPECTOR QUESTIONED ITEM #8; PITOT TUBE; STATIC PORT; AND ANGLE OF ATTACK SENSOR INSPECTION PROC. HE ASKED HOW I DETERMINED THE TUBE HAD NO INSECT OBSTRUCTION. I EXPLAINED THAT I CHKED IT FROM THE GND. HE EXPLAINED THAT HIS INTERP IS THAT YOU MUST PUT A STAND UP AND VISUALLY CHK UP CLOSE. I EXPLAINED WE WERE TRAINED THAT ALL INSPECTIONS ARE DONE FROM THE GND. WE ALSO CHKED 'A' CHK AND 'B' CHK PAPERWORK INSPECTION OF THIS PITOT TUBE AND IT STATES IT IS DONE FROM THE GND. ITEM #6 ON THE ETOPS CHK STATES GENERAL WALKAROUND ACCOMPLISHED FROM GND LEVEL. I FEEL THE ETOPS PAPERWORK IS CONTRADICTORY WITH ITEM #6 AND #8 AND 'A' AND 'B' CHKS. REF WORK CARD X 'B' CHK AND 'A' CHK CARD A STATES ACCOMPLISH FROM GND. CONTRADICTORY INFO CAUSING ENTRAPMENT OF MECH -- NO SPECIFIC PROC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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 B777 during an ETOPS check an FAA safety inspector questioned procedure for checking pitot tube and static port for insect obstruction from ground level.