Narrative:

On feb/fri/07; I was involved in removing and replacing the upper hinge fitting on the horizontal stabilizer on aircraft at the ZZZ hangar. The upper hinge fitting required replacement due to the delaminable washers wearing out. The hinge fitting itself was not damaged but the washers were worn. I replaced the hinge fitting without removing rudder I or rudder ii and received the inspector's rii endorsement. This was an accepted way of doing this task with our inspector's approval. I now believe that some of the operations checks may have been omitted. The zero rig was accomplished but the backlash check was not. This backlash check was not done due to the note in amm. This note states that the rudder backlash check is only required if the rudder is new to the aircraft; this was not the case. There were no control rods; actuating rods; or feedback rods removed or altered in any way with this task. I was also involved in other aircraft where this repair was done.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB-140 ACFT HAD SHIMS REPLACED UNDER RUDDER HINGE FITTINGS ON THE VERTICAL STAB WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING THE REQUIRED RUDDER OPS CHECKS.

Narrative: ON FEB/FRI/07; I WAS INVOLVED IN REMOVING AND REPLACING THE UPPER HINGE FITTING ON THE HORIZ STABILIZER ON ACFT AT THE ZZZ HANGAR. THE UPPER HINGE FITTING REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE DELAMINABLE WASHERS WEARING OUT. THE HINGE FITTING ITSELF WAS NOT DAMAGED BUT THE WASHERS WERE WORN. I REPLACED THE HINGE FITTING WITHOUT REMOVING RUDDER I OR RUDDER II AND RECEIVED THE INSPECTOR'S RII ENDORSEMENT. THIS WAS AN ACCEPTED WAY OF DOING THIS TASK WITH OUR INSPECTOR'S APPROVAL. I NOW BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE OPS CHKS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED. THE ZERO RIG WAS ACCOMPLISHED BUT THE BACKLASH CHK WAS NOT. THIS BACKLASH CHK WAS NOT DONE DUE TO THE NOTE IN AMM. THIS NOTE STATES THAT THE RUDDER BACKLASH CHK IS ONLY REQUIRED IF THE RUDDER IS NEW TO THE ACFT; THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THERE WERE NO CTL RODS; ACTUATING RODS; OR FEEDBACK RODS REMOVED OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY WITH THIS TASK. I WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN OTHER ACFT WHERE THIS REPAIR WAS DONE.

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.