Narrative:

While replacing reading light assembly (1 item); I inadvertently pulled away heat shrink tube for 1 connecting wire crimp terminal; approximately a 1/4 - 3/8 in length of crimp area exposed; considered covering with insulating tape; however; heat generated by light assembly raised concern over using proper temperature range tape. Class D type tape referenced in the standard practice wiring manual was not available; also did not know heat range of available heat shrink tubing. Was concerned that a low temperature range material may melt; as the assembly and terminals were hot to touch. A careful check of the light assembly and surrounding area; ensured adequate clearance that with the passenger service unit closed the assembly would be ok for service without further action. An article reminding me of human factors training caused me to reconsider the condition of the wire terminal and prompted me to make this report. Could that terminal become a link in a chain of events? I need to seek corrective action. The hours of my shift and trying to complete the job may have not left me with the best judgement. In hindsight; I could have done a better job; perhaps contacting '2' service for guidance or continue the 1 with an information item. I understand this is not timely in regard to when I replaced the light assembly; but I now think it needs to be addressed. Perhaps a '3' item could be generated to insulate the exposed terminal area with the proper materials/procedures. Please consider a '4' for insulation repairs including part numbers. Difficult to navigation standard practice wiring manual. Correct type insulating tape not available. Time of day (night) and need to complete job may have been factors

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 MAINT TECH ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT A POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERN INVOLVING A CONNECTING WIRE CRIMP TERMINAL AFTER INADVERTENTLY PULLING BACK HEAT SHRINK TUBING.

Narrative: WHILE REPLACING READING LIGHT ASSEMBLY (1 ITEM); I INADVERTENTLY PULLED AWAY HEAT SHRINK TUBE FOR 1 CONNECTING WIRE CRIMP TERMINAL; APPROX A 1/4 - 3/8 IN LENGTH OF CRIMP AREA EXPOSED; CONSIDERED COVERING WITH INSULATING TAPE; HOWEVER; HEAT GENERATED BY LIGHT ASSEMBLY RAISED CONCERN OVER USING PROPER TEMP RANGE TAPE. CLASS D TYPE TAPE REFED IN THE STANDARD PRACTICE WIRING MANUAL WAS NOT AVAILABLE; ALSO DID NOT KNOW HEAT RANGE OF AVAILABLE HEAT SHRINK TUBING. WAS CONCERNED THAT A LOW TEMP RANGE MATERIAL MAY MELT; AS THE ASSEMBLY AND TERMINALS WERE HOT TO TOUCH. A CAREFUL CHK OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SURROUNDING AREA; ENSURED ADEQUATE CLRNC THAT WITH THE PAX SVC UNIT CLOSED THE ASSEMBLY WOULD BE OK FOR SVC WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION. AN ARTICLE REMINDING ME OF HUMAN FACTORS TRAINING CAUSED ME TO RECONSIDER THE CONDITION OF THE WIRE TERMINAL AND PROMPTED ME TO MAKE THIS RPT. COULD THAT TERMINAL BECOME A LINK IN A CHAIN OF EVENTS? I NEED TO SEEK CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE HRS OF MY SHIFT AND TRYING TO COMPLETE THE JOB MAY HAVE NOT LEFT ME WITH THE BEST JUDGEMENT. IN HINDSIGHT; I COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB; PERHAPS CONTACTING '2' SVC FOR GUIDANCE OR CONTINUE THE 1 WITH AN INFO ITEM. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT TIMELY IN REGARD TO WHEN I REPLACED THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY; BUT I NOW THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PERHAPS A '3' ITEM COULD BE GENERATED TO INSULATE THE EXPOSED TERMINAL AREA WITH THE PROPER MATERIALS/PROCS. PLEASE CONSIDER A '4' FOR INSULATION REPAIRS INCLUDING PART NUMBERS. DIFFICULT TO NAV STANDARD PRACTICE WIRING MANUAL. CORRECT TYPE INSULATING TAPE NOT AVAILABLE. TIME OF DAY (NIGHT) AND NEED TO COMPLETE JOB MAY HAVE BEEN FACTORS

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.