A B737-300 incurred damage to an elevator trim tab while closing panels after a rudder change. Technician operated a scissors lift with a broken control handle.

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Attributes
ACN	726659
Time
Date	200702
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	726659
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : lead technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical ground encounters other maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : tooling performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was installing a rudder. We had 2 lifts (cherry pickers); one on each side of vertical stabilizer. The line ron guys took one. I was using a scissor lift with one end telescoped out on the right side over the elevator-tab to put panels on after the installation. The control handle was broken but it still worked although a little jerky. I had one of my co-workers watching initially as I moved it up then he went back to the other side. The stand moved involuntarily slightly forward and I leaned over to see if I was clear. As I went up I heard it hit the trim tab and immediately moved down. The tab was cracked. The lead made a non routine and told the supervisor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 INCURRED DAMAGE TO AN ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WHILE CLOSING PANELS AFTER A RUDDER CHANGE. TECHNICIAN OPERATED A SCISSORS LIFT WITH A BROKEN CTL HANDLE.

Narrative: I WAS INSTALLING A RUDDER. WE HAD 2 LIFTS (CHERRY PICKERS); ONE ON EACH SIDE OF VERT STABILIZER. THE LINE RON GUYS TOOK ONE. I WAS USING A SCISSOR LIFT WITH ONE END TELESCOPED OUT ON THE R SIDE OVER THE ELEVATOR-TAB TO PUT PANELS ON AFTER THE INSTALLATION. THE CTL HANDLE WAS BROKEN BUT IT STILL WORKED ALTHOUGH A LITTLE JERKY. I HAD ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS WATCHING INITIALLY AS I MOVED IT UP THEN HE WENT BACK TO THE OTHER SIDE. THE STAND MOVED INVOLUNTARILY SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND I LEANED OVER TO SEE IF I WAS CLR. AS I WENT UP I HEARD IT HIT THE TRIM TAB AND IMMEDIATELY MOVED DOWN. THE TAB WAS CRACKED. THE LEAD MADE A NON ROUTINE AND TOLD THE SUPVR.

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.