When a mechanic failed to complete an A320 #4 speed brake MEL procedure; the aircraft landed with th...

Attributes
ACN	671359
Time
Date	200509
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dfw.tower
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	671359
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Dispatched with the #4 spoiler on both sides deferred in the stowed position. Flight was normal with normal fuel burn. It was noticed on the ILS approach; that considerably more power was required than normal to maintain a 3 degree GS. On walkaround for the next leg; the captain noticed that the #4 spoiler was extended on both wings. The contract mechanic told us that the MEL card had not been complied with in that the selector had not been selected to the '0' position to lock down the deferred spoiler. Quality control did not work in this instance. The results could have been quite different with a heavier aircraft or bad WX. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the part of the MEL procedure porting hydraulic pressure to the spoiler actuator down side was not completed by the mechanic. The speed brakes were down from the beginning of the previous flight up to the point in descent or approach when the crew activated them; then they remained up. When the speed brakes were used in-flight; they were allowed to blow up; but there was not pressure to lower them again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHEN A MECH FAILED TO COMPLETE AN A320 #4 SPD BRAKE MEL PROC; THE ACFT LANDED WITH THE SPD BRAKES EXTENDED AFTER USING THEM INFLT.

Narrative: DISPATCHED WITH THE #4 SPOILER ON BOTH SIDES DEFERRED IN THE STOWED POS. FLT WAS NORMAL WITH NORMAL FUEL BURN. IT WAS NOTICED ON THE ILS APCH; THAT CONSIDERABLY MORE PWR WAS REQUIRED THAN NORMAL TO MAINTAIN A 3 DEG GS. ON WALKAROUND FOR THE NEXT LEG; THE CAPT NOTICED THAT THE #4 SPOILER WAS EXTENDED ON BOTH WINGS. THE CONTRACT MECH TOLD US THAT THE MEL CARD HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH IN THAT THE SELECTOR HAD NOT BEEN SELECTED TO THE '0' POS TO LOCK DOWN THE DEFERRED SPOILER. QUALITY CTL DID NOT WORK IN THIS INSTANCE. THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT WITH A HEAVIER ACFT OR BAD WX. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE PART OF THE MEL PROC PORTING HYD PRESSURE TO THE SPOILER ACTUATOR DOWN SIDE WAS NOT COMPLETED BY THE MECH. THE SPD BRAKES WERE DOWN FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PREVIOUS FLT UP TO THE POINT IN DSCNT OR APCH WHEN THE CREW ACTIVATED THEM; THEN THEY REMAINED UP. WHEN THE SPD BRAKES WERE USED INFLT; THEY WERE ALLOWED TO BLOW UP; BUT THERE WAS NOT PRESSURE TO LOWER THEM AGAIN.

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.

When a mechanic failed to complete an A320 #4 speed brake MEL procedure; the aircraft landed with the speed brakes extended after using them in-flight.