2 EMB145 aircraft were routed to stations where required time checks could not be performed. A manag...

Attributes
ACN	669775
Time
Date	200508
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	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
ASRS Report	669775
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : engineering procedure contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Chart Or Publication Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Aircraft X and aircraft Y both were routed to a maintenance base to have periodic service #1 checks complied with. For some reason not controled by maintenance or maintenance control; operations control rerouted; the aircraft to an outstation where the periodic service #1 check could not be completed. I looked over the emb engineering specification maintenance manual and the operations specifications for guidance. The esm states 'exception for the periodic service #1 check may be exceeded since the last periodic service or higher check by a maximum of 3 flight segments; back to a maintenance base. An aircraft may be dispatched from a class III station to a qualified maintenance station for a periodic service check or higher.' operations specification states; 'periodic service #1 and #2 checks 3 flts back to maintenance base.' there used to be a statement in both manuals that said period service checks can only be escalated due to WX or uncontrollable circumstances. That statement was removed. So I went forward with issuing supplemental time extensions for both aircraft. I completed and signed the supplemental time extensions per gpm 11-03. However; the gpm 11-03 paragraph D states; 'inclement WX and unscheduled maintenance that prevents an aircraft from completing designated routing may result in exceeding the limitations of periodic service check and require a supplemental time extension. In such cases; the maintenance controller or maintenance director may be delegated the responsibilities and perform the procedures idented in C1 through C4 above; executing all parts of the supplemental time extension form.' I was talking with my director and another maintenance director and we referenced the gpm and read over the following statement which I learned I inappropriately signed off 2 supplemental time extensions. The error was made when I should have had director of quality control sign both supplemental time extensions since both events did not involve WX or unscheduled maintenance problems. I believe all 3 manuals should have the same periodic service check exceptions. I will submit a manual change request form to have them looked at.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 EMB145 ACFT WERE ROUTED TO STATIONS WHERE REQUIRED TIME CHKS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. A MGR SIGNED 2 TIME EXTENSIONS FOR BOTH ACFT WITHOUT AUTH.

Narrative: ACFT X AND ACFT Y BOTH WERE ROUTED TO A MAINT BASE TO HAVE PERIODIC SVC #1 CHKS COMPLIED WITH. FOR SOME REASON NOT CTLED BY MAINT OR MAINT CTL; OPS CTL REROUTED; THE ACFT TO AN OUTSTATION WHERE THE PERIODIC SVC #1 CHK COULD NOT BE COMPLETED. I LOOKED OVER THE EMB ENGINEERING SPEC MAINT MANUAL AND THE OPS SPECS FOR GUIDANCE. THE ESM STATES 'EXCEPTION FOR THE PERIODIC SVC #1 CHK MAY BE EXCEEDED SINCE THE LAST PERIODIC SVC OR HIGHER CHK BY A MAX OF 3 FLT SEGMENTS; BACK TO A MAINT BASE. AN ACFT MAY BE DISPATCHED FROM A CLASS III STATION TO A QUALIFIED MAINT STATION FOR A PERIODIC SVC CHK OR HIGHER.' OPS SPEC STATES; 'PERIODIC SVC #1 AND #2 CHKS 3 FLTS BACK TO MAINT BASE.' THERE USED TO BE A STATEMENT IN BOTH MANUALS THAT SAID PERIOD SVC CHKS CAN ONLY BE ESCALATED DUE TO WX OR UNCTLABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT STATEMENT WAS REMOVED. SO I WENT FORWARD WITH ISSUING SUPPLEMENTAL TIME EXTENSIONS FOR BOTH ACFT. I COMPLETED AND SIGNED THE SUPPLEMENTAL TIME EXTENSIONS PER GPM 11-03. HOWEVER; THE GPM 11-03 PARAGRAPH D STATES; 'INCLEMENT WX AND UNSCHEDULED MAINT THAT PREVENTS AN ACFT FROM COMPLETING DESIGNATED ROUTING MAY RESULT IN EXCEEDING THE LIMITATIONS OF PERIODIC SVC CHK AND REQUIRE A SUPPLEMENTAL TIME EXTENSION. IN SUCH CASES; THE MAINT CTLR OR MAINT DIRECTOR MAY BE DELEGATED THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORM THE PROCS IDENTED IN C1 THROUGH C4 ABOVE; EXECUTING ALL PARTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL TIME EXTENSION FORM.' I WAS TALKING WITH MY DIRECTOR AND ANOTHER MAINT DIRECTOR AND WE REFED THE GPM AND READ OVER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WHICH I LEARNED I INAPPROPRIATELY SIGNED OFF 2 SUPPLEMENTAL TIME EXTENSIONS. THE ERROR WAS MADE WHEN I SHOULD HAVE HAD DIRECTOR OF QUALITY CTL SIGN BOTH SUPPLEMENTAL TIME EXTENSIONS SINCE BOTH EVENTS DID NOT INVOLVE WX OR UNSCHEDULED MAINT PROBS. I BELIEVE ALL 3 MANUALS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME PERIODIC SVC CHK EXCEPTIONS. I WILL SUBMIT A MANUAL CHANGE REQUEST FORM TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT.

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.

2 EMB145 aircraft were routed to stations where required time checks could not be performed. A manager signed 2 time extensions for both aircraft without authority/authorized.