An MD80 with a cabin water leak is deferred per the MEL. Technician accomplished all special procedu...

Attributes
ACN	681932
Time
Date	200512
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	681932
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : lead technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure contributing factor : manuals performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was assigned to meet aircraft inbound with an unknown water leak. Arrived at aircraft to find water on aircraft interior; from forward edge of L-1 door; on aisle of closet; and in aisle by forward lavatory. There were also 2 other inbound items; minor condition as I recall; a seat and reading light; I believe. I was informed by the crew that the water to the lavatory is on placard inbound and the water to the forward lavatory was shut off. I confirmed the water was shut off to the lavatory. I surmised that the leak was upstream of the shutoff valve. I communicated with my lead that I thought the aircraft should be removed from service. He informed me that it would be a technician decision. In a few mins (approximately 5 mins) a technician arrived. He inspected the same area I did; and did not find the leak either. He (technician) placarded the complete water system; and drained the system. I called maintenance control for a placard of the potable water system. MEL was issued. I drained the water system; completed the placard page entry. I did; however; fail to comply with the maintenance procedure manual. In my haste and concern to get bottled water and sanitary wipes to the aircraft for departure; I did not apply an inoperative 'do not use' placard across the water service door on the aircraft fuselage skin. The aircraft departed; and I was made aware of this incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 WITH A CABIN WATER LEAK IS DEFERRED PER THE MEL. TECHNICIAN ACCOMPLISHED ALL SPECIAL PROC ITEMS EXCEPT PLACARDING THE EXTERIOR WATER SVC DOOR.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED TO MEET ACFT INBOUND WITH AN UNKNOWN WATER LEAK. ARRIVED AT ACFT TO FIND WATER ON ACFT INTERIOR; FROM FORWARD EDGE OF L-1 DOOR; ON AISLE OF CLOSET; AND IN AISLE BY FORWARD LAVATORY. THERE WERE ALSO 2 OTHER INBOUND ITEMS; MINOR CONDITION AS I RECALL; A SEAT AND READING LIGHT; I BELIEVE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CREW THAT THE WATER TO THE LAVATORY IS ON PLACARD INBOUND AND THE WATER TO THE FORWARD LAVATORY WAS SHUT OFF. I CONFIRMED THE WATER WAS SHUT OFF TO THE LAVATORY. I SURMISED THAT THE LEAK WAS UPSTREAM OF THE SHUTOFF VALVE. I COMMUNICATED WITH MY LEAD THAT I THOUGHT THE ACFT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM SVC. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE A TECHNICIAN DECISION. IN A FEW MINS (APPROX 5 MINS) A TECHNICIAN ARRIVED. HE INSPECTED THE SAME AREA I DID; AND DID NOT FIND THE LEAK EITHER. HE (TECHNICIAN) PLACARDED THE COMPLETE WATER SYS; AND DRAINED THE SYS. I CALLED MAINT CTL FOR A PLACARD OF THE POTABLE WATER SYS. MEL WAS ISSUED. I DRAINED THE WATER SYS; COMPLETED THE PLACARD PAGE ENTRY. I DID; HOWEVER; FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE MAINT PROC MANUAL. IN MY HASTE AND CONCERN TO GET BOTTLED WATER AND SANITARY WIPES TO THE ACFT FOR DEP; I DID NOT APPLY AN INOP 'DO NOT USE' PLACARD ACROSS THE WATER SVC DOOR ON THE ACFT FUSELAGE SKIN. THE ACFT DEPARTED; AND I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT.

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.

An MD80 with a cabin water leak is deferred per the MEL. Technician accomplished all special procedure items except placarding the exterior water service door.