While performing an engineering callout in md-80 tail compartment; an inspector notices an additiona...

Attributes
ACN	792045
Time
Date	200806
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Person 1
Function	maintenance : inspector
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
ASRS Report	792045
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : engineering procedure
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Aircraft
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Situations
Publication	ENGINEERING ORSER

Narrative:

Safety concern regarding engineering order. While the minimum clearance between the pulley bracket and wire harnesses exists; certain circumstances may cause the harnesses to contact the pulley bracket. Engineering needs to figure out a way to add a clamp to make sure this does not ever happen. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the engineering callout is for the aft side of fuselage station 1338 bulkhead. Access to the wire harnesses and rudder cable pulley and support bracket is from the tail compartment catwalk; looking forward and to the right; through a panel or 'vault' door. The engineering order requires inspection to verify proper clearance of the wire harness near the vertical rudder cable pulley assembly. Reporter stated he has noticed during his inspection of various md-80 aircraft; that the electrical wire harnesses tend to relax; or droop between their fixed harness clamps in this area. There is nothing in the engineering order that addresses distance maximums between existing clamps; only that adequate space exist between harness and cable. Reporter also stated there are no standards that exists in the wiring manual for clamp distance. He has suggested to engineering that an additional harness clamp be added in this area to prevent the drooping of the wire bundle and possible contact with the rudder pulley.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE PERFORMING AN ENGINEERING CALLOUT IN MD-80 TAIL COMPARTMENT; AN INSPECTOR NOTICES AN ADDITIONAL CLAMP SHOULD BE ADDED TO SUPPORT AN ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS NEAR A RUDDER CABLE PULLEY ASSEMBLY.

Narrative: SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING ENGINEERING ORDER. WHILE THE MINIMUM CLRNC BTWN THE PULLEY BRACKET AND WIRE HARNESSES EXISTS; CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CAUSE THE HARNESSES TO CONTACT THE PULLEY BRACKET. ENGINEERING NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADD A CLAMP TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT EVER HAPPEN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THE ENGINEERING CALLOUT IS FOR THE AFT SIDE OF FUSELAGE STATION 1338 BULKHEAD. ACCESS TO THE WIRE HARNESSES AND RUDDER CABLE PULLEY AND SUPPORT BRACKET IS FROM THE TAIL COMPARTMENT CATWALK; LOOKING FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT; THROUGH A PANEL OR 'VAULT' DOOR. THE ENGINEERING ORDER REQUIRES INSPECTION TO VERIFY PROPER CLEARANCE OF THE WIRE HARNESS NEAR THE VERTICAL RUDDER CABLE PULLEY ASSEMBLY. REPORTER STATED HE HAS NOTICED DURING HIS INSPECTION OF VARIOUS MD-80 ACFT; THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESSES TEND TO RELAX; OR DROOP BETWEEN THEIR FIXED HARNESS CLAMPS IN THIS AREA. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE ENGINEERING ORDER THAT ADDRESSES DISTANCE MAXIMUMS BETWEEN EXISTING CLAMPS; ONLY THAT ADEQUATE SPACE EXIST BETWEEN HARNESS AND CABLE. REPORTER ALSO STATED THERE ARE NO STANDARDS THAT EXISTS IN THE WIRING MANUAL FOR CLAMP DISTANCE. HE HAS SUGGESTED TO ENGINEERING THAT AN ADDITIONAL HARNESS CLAMP BE ADDED IN THIS AREA TO PREVENT THE DROOPING OF THE WIRE BUNDLE AND POSSIBLE CONTACT WITH THE RUDDER PULLEY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

While performing an engineering callout in md-80 tail compartment; an inspector notices an additional clamp should be added to support an electrical wire harness near a rudder cable pulley assembly.