A B737 in 'C' check has a routine task card inadvertently deferred out of the 'C' check. Reporter ci...

Attributes
ACN	709474
Time
Date	200608
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	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	709474
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : work cards performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

A discussion arose about carryovers and deferrals out of a 'C' check. At this time I realized I might have done an improper carryover on a routine task card last week. As confirmed by supervisor and workload coordinator; I did do an improper carryover last thursday morning on task card 31-040-00-01. At that time using the maintenance computer system; I improperly deferred the card. It allowed me to do it by opening up all options to carry the card. Thus; I thought it was done correctly. This is confusing and should somehow be removed from maintenance computer for routine task cards so this does not happen again. I now have read maintenance procedures manual on the 'C' check carryover system. I had no prior knowledge on deferring routine task cards since I am not on the computer system that much. I have further explained to inspector about the incident. Also contacted planning to issue the task card to be cleared by the due date. I feel a less complicated computer system that does not allow this to happen should be looked into. I have also read and understand the deferral process a little better than I was originally shown. The computer system needs to be less confusing and not allow a person to carry over a routine (electronic) task card. This needs to be rectified.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 IN 'C' CHK HAS A ROUTINE TASK CARD INADVERTENTLY DEFERRED OUT OF THE 'C' CHK. RPTR CITES COMPLEX MAINT COMPUTER ENTRY PROCS AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Narrative: A DISCUSSION AROSE ABOUT CARRYOVERS AND DEFERRALS OUT OF A 'C' CHK. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I MIGHT HAVE DONE AN IMPROPER CARRYOVER ON A ROUTINE TASK CARD LAST WK. AS CONFIRMED BY SUPVR AND WORKLOAD COORDINATOR; I DID DO AN IMPROPER CARRYOVER LAST THURSDAY MORNING ON TASK CARD 31-040-00-01. AT THAT TIME USING THE MAINT COMPUTER SYS; I IMPROPERLY DEFERRED THE CARD. IT ALLOWED ME TO DO IT BY OPENING UP ALL OPTIONS TO CARRY THE CARD. THUS; I THOUGHT IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY. THIS IS CONFUSING AND SHOULD SOMEHOW BE REMOVED FROM MAINT COMPUTER FOR ROUTINE TASK CARDS SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I NOW HAVE READ MAINT PROCS MANUAL ON THE 'C' CHK CARRYOVER SYS. I HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ON DEFERRING ROUTINE TASK CARDS SINCE I AM NOT ON THE COMPUTER SYS THAT MUCH. I HAVE FURTHER EXPLAINED TO INSPECTOR ABOUT THE INCIDENT. ALSO CONTACTED PLANNING TO ISSUE THE TASK CARD TO BE CLRED BY THE DUE DATE. I FEEL A LESS COMPLICATED COMPUTER SYS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I HAVE ALSO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE DEFERRAL PROCESS A LITTLE BETTER THAN I WAS ORIGINALLY SHOWN. THE COMPUTER SYS NEEDS TO BE LESS CONFUSING AND NOT ALLOW A PERSON TO CARRY OVER A ROUTINE (ELECTRONIC) TASK CARD. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED.

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.

A B737 in 'C' check has a routine task card inadvertently deferred out of the 'C' check. Reporter cites complex maintenance computer entry procedures as a contributing factor.