After changing a fuel probe in the right wing fuel tank of a crj-200; mechanic later realizes he may...

Attributes
ACN	818161
Time
Date	200812
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	818161
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Was asked to change a fuel probe in right wing fuel tank. Probe is just inside tank and easy to access. Changed probe and finished job; closed fuel panel and went on finishing other maintenance on aircraft. Later that night; getting ready for shift end; I was performing tool inventory of tools in my box and noticed my pliers were missing. Went to aircraft to check everything I worked on; did not find them; checked with other mechanics to see if they had seen them and pliers were still missing. I knew I was in the fuel tank early and thought there was a chance pliers were in the fuel tank. Once I noticed this; I went and notified supervisor and lead mechanic; so the aircraft would not leave and they checked the tank. Aircraft did not leave and next morning they found my pliers in the tank.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After changing a fuel probe in the right wing fuel tank of a CRJ-200; mechanic later realizes he may have left his pliers in the tank.

Narrative: Was asked to change a fuel probe in right wing fuel tank. Probe is just inside tank and easy to access. Changed probe and finished job; closed fuel panel and went on finishing other maintenance on aircraft. Later that night; getting ready for shift end; I was performing tool inventory of tools in my box and noticed my pliers were missing. Went to aircraft to check everything I worked on; did not find them; checked with other mechanics to see if they had seen them and pliers were still missing. I knew I was in the fuel tank early and thought there was a chance pliers were in the fuel tank. Once I noticed this; I went and notified Supervisor and Lead Mechanic; so the aircraft would not leave and they checked the tank. Aircraft did not leave and next morning they found my pliers in the tank.

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 changing a fuel probe in the right wing fuel tank of a crj-200; mechanic later realizes he may have left his pliers in the tank.