B737-400 flight crew finds fdr test switch inoperative due to inappropriate safety wiring.

Attributes
ACN	700854
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time type : 5600
ASRS Report	700854
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

First officer mentioned a problem preflting the flight recorder and asked me to look at it. I found the flight recorder test switch cover guard 'shear wired' closed. Contacted line maintenance and we agreed to break shear wire and complete a preflight test of the system. Mechanic arrived to remove shear wire. This aircraft had recently been returned to the line following 'C-check' contract maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-400 FLT CREW FINDS FDR TEST SWITCH INOP DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SAFETY WIRING.

Narrative: FO MENTIONED A PROB PREFLTING THE FLT RECORDER AND ASKED ME TO LOOK AT IT. I FOUND THE FLT RECORDER TEST SWITCH COVER GUARD 'SHEAR WIRED' CLOSED. CONTACTED LINE MAINT AND WE AGREED TO BREAK SHEAR WIRE AND COMPLETE A PREFLT TEST OF THE SYS. MECH ARRIVED TO REMOVE SHEAR WIRE. THIS ACFT HAD RECENTLY BEEN RETURNED TO THE LINE FOLLOWING 'C-CHK' CONTRACT MAINT.

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.