After mechanic smoothed out the sharp edges of a paint chip and bubble at the left static port in th...

Attributes
ACN	799534
Time
Date	200808
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant technician : repairman
Experience	maintenance repairman : 10 maintenance supervisor : 21 maintenance technician : 23
ASRS Report	799534
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : briefing performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

B757-200 was scheduled to depart from ZZZ gate; a log item stating 'paint chip and bubble in rvsm area.' the flight was due to depart within the next several mins. I was the supervisor of the terminal; and went to the gate to see if the gate mechanic needed any help. The gate mechanic stated that everything was completed; but he needed assistance deferring the paint chip log because his release had expired. I reviewed the amm while the mechanic explained the actions he took with the item. He stated that he used a 'scotch BRITE' pad to smooth out the sharp edges of the paint chip (which measured 1 inch in diameter at the 1100 position 8 inches from the left side static port). Paragraph 'D' of amm states that if the paint thickness is reduced by mechanical means; the paint irregularity could be within limits. I agreed with this statement and deferred the item. I was contacted by the maintenance controller who informed me that any repair to the rvsm sensitive area required an rii. I did not believe that the smoothing of the paint chip was classified as a repair. The maintenance controller arranged for an inspector to meet the aircraft in ZZZ to accomplish the required rii. I understand that repairs to the rvsm sensitive area is considered a major repair and requires an rii; I did not consider the smoothing of a chipped area of paint a repair. I will from now on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER MECHANIC SMOOTHED OUT THE SHARP EDGES OF A PAINT CHIP AND BUBBLE AT THE LEFT STATIC PORT IN THE RVSM AREA; A MAINT SUPERVISOR DEFERRED THE PAINT CHIP AND RELEASED THE B757-200 ETOPS ACFT. AN RII INSPECTION WAS REQUIRED.

Narrative: B757-200 WAS SCHEDULED TO DEPART FROM ZZZ GATE; A LOG ITEM STATING 'PAINT CHIP AND BUBBLE IN RVSM AREA.' THE FLT WAS DUE TO DEPART WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL MINS. I WAS THE SUPVR OF THE TERMINAL; AND WENT TO THE GATE TO SEE IF THE GATE MECH NEEDED ANY HELP. THE GATE MECH STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETED; BUT HE NEEDED ASSISTANCE DEFERRING THE PAINT CHIP LOG BECAUSE HIS RELEASE HAD EXPIRED. I REVIEWED THE AMM WHILE THE MECH EXPLAINED THE ACTIONS HE TOOK WITH THE ITEM. HE STATED THAT HE USED A 'SCOTCH BRITE' PAD TO SMOOTH OUT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE PAINT CHIP (WHICH MEASURED 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AT THE 1100 POS 8 INCHES FROM THE L SIDE STATIC PORT). PARAGRAPH 'D' OF AMM STATES THAT IF THE PAINT THICKNESS IS REDUCED BY MECHANICAL MEANS; THE PAINT IRREGULARITY COULD BE WITHIN LIMITS. I AGREED WITH THIS STATEMENT AND DEFERRED THE ITEM. I WAS CONTACTED BY THE MAINT CTLR WHO INFORMED ME THAT ANY REPAIR TO THE RVSM SENSITIVE AREA REQUIRED AN RII. I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SMOOTHING OF THE PAINT CHIP WAS CLASSIFIED AS A REPAIR. THE MAINT CTLR ARRANGED FOR AN INSPECTOR TO MEET THE ACFT IN ZZZ TO ACCOMPLISH THE REQUIRED RII. I UNDERSTAND THAT REPAIRS TO THE RVSM SENSITIVE AREA IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR REPAIR AND REQUIRES AN RII; I DID NOT CONSIDER THE SMOOTHING OF A CHIPPED AREA OF PAINT A REPAIR. I WILL FROM NOW ON.

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.

After mechanic smoothed out the sharp edges of a paint chip and bubble at the left static port in the rvsm area; a maintenance supervisor deferred the paint chip and released the B757-200 ETOPS aircraft. An rii inspection was required.