Narrative:

On may/tue/05; we were dispatched to the line for multiple aircraft discrepancies. I inspected a dent on aircraft X; left inboard trailing edge aft flap. The dent was found to be within the limits of srm as I stated on the log page. No repair was required. The item was entered into long term deferred item. For an item to be listed as long term deferred item; it can't have a re-inspect as stated in gpm. The problem is; the srm notes state 'maintain records of the location of all un-repaired allowable damage. Inspect frequently and perform permanent repairs immediately at any sign of propagation.' this would disqualify the dent as a long term deferred item. The srm doesn't define what time interval a frequent inspection is. I was unable to list it under any other deferral code to track it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-400 HAD A DENT ON THE L INBOARD TRAILING EDGE AFT FLAP. DENT WAS INSPECTED PER THE SRM. NO REPAIR REQUIRED. ENTERED IN LONG TERM DEFERRAL.

Narrative: ON MAY/TUE/05; WE WERE DISPATCHED TO THE LINE FOR MULTIPLE ACFT DISCREPANCIES. I INSPECTED A DENT ON ACFT X; L INBOARD TRAILING EDGE AFT FLAP. THE DENT WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF SRM AS I STATED ON THE LOG PAGE. NO REPAIR WAS REQUIRED. THE ITEM WAS ENTERED INTO LONG TERM DEFERRED ITEM. FOR AN ITEM TO BE LISTED AS LONG TERM DEFERRED ITEM; IT CAN'T HAVE A RE-INSPECT AS STATED IN GPM. THE PROB IS; THE SRM NOTES STATE 'MAINTAIN RECORDS OF THE LOCATION OF ALL UN-REPAIRED ALLOWABLE DAMAGE. INSPECT FREQUENTLY AND PERFORM PERMANENT REPAIRS IMMEDIATELY AT ANY SIGN OF PROPAGATION.' THIS WOULD DISQUALIFY THE DENT AS A LONG TERM DEFERRED ITEM. THE SRM DOESN'T DEFINE WHAT TIME INTERVAL A FREQUENT INSPECTION IS. I WAS UNABLE TO LIST IT UNDER ANY OTHER DEFERRAL CODE TO TRACK IT.

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.