Narrative:

I was installing the control yoke covers on an ATR-72-200 first officer's (first officer's) side. All the hardware previously removed; was in a bag and I wasn't sure where it was suppose to go. I went to the illustrated parts catalog (ipc) to try and identify where the hardware goes. The ipc did not help; so I attempted to install the hardware by trial and error. I just could not figure it out; so I told my crew chief and he said to go aircraft on ground; for the correct hardware. Later in the day; the crew chief told me the supervisor wanted me to try and install the covers as best I could; so the aircraft could go on a remaining flight cycle schedule. I attempted to install it. I did the best I could with what I had. I could only get it partially installed with the hardware that was left for me. I made a write-up that the panels were partially installed and awaiting the correct hardware.later; the crew chief said the supervisor wanted me to cannibalize (rob); the hardware from another aircraft. I explained that the hardware did not have the part numbers printed on them; so I could not identify if I was installing the correct hardware. The other aircraft I went to also had different hardware in different places; (comparing the captain's and first officers yoke covers; the hardware was all different and installed in different places). I explained that I could not identify what the hardware was and could not cannibalize it due to that fact. The supervisor then told the crew chief that I needed to go with the sheet metal guy so he could teach me how to identify hardware because I didn't know how. I told the crew chief that's fine; but we would still not know what the part numbers of the hardware was; because it is not printed on the hardware. I do not feel comfortable guessing if this was the correct hardware or not; and I explained this to the supervisor. I was told that the supervisor thinks I was refusing to do the job and trying to delay the aircraft from leaving. I told him I was not trying to do anything of the sort. I explained that I would not guess at what hardware I was installing and needed the correct hardware with proper paperwork. The sheet metal guy even told him he did not know if the hardware from the other aircraft was the correct hardware; because there are no part numbers on them. The supervisor still insisted on canning (robbing) hardware from another aircraft; I told him I would get the hardware and install it for him if that is what he wants done; but I would not sign the work off; because the hardware was unidentifiable. He was getting angry and putting more pressure on me do this. I felt he was trying to pressure me to just make this problem go away. Eventually he told me to leave and I do not know what he had done to install the parts because my shift was over.this event has been really upsetting and very unnecessary. The event occurred because the supervisor wanted the ATR-72 out; but I refused to do it the incorrect way. I suggested having the parts we need to fix the aircraft; so supervisors do not try to pressure people into doing the wrong thing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Mechanic describes his efforts to identify and verify hardware left over in a bag is correct for reinstalling the control yoke covers on an ATR-72.

Narrative: I was installing the control yoke covers on an ATR-72-200 First Officer's (First Officer's) side. All the hardware previously removed; was in a bag and I wasn't sure where it was suppose to go. I went to the illustrated parts catalog (IPC) to try and identify where the hardware goes. The IPC did not help; so I attempted to install the hardware by trial and error. I just could not figure it out; so I told my Crew Chief and he said to go aircraft on ground; for the correct hardware. Later in the day; the Crew Chief told me the Supervisor wanted me to try and install the covers as best I could; so the aircraft could go on a remaining flight cycle schedule. I attempted to install it. I did the best I could with what I had. I could only get it partially installed with the hardware that was left for me. I made a write-up that the panels were partially installed and awaiting the correct hardware.Later; the Crew Chief said the Supervisor wanted me to cannibalize (rob); the hardware from another aircraft. I explained that the hardware did not have the part numbers printed on them; so I could not identify if I was installing the correct hardware. The other aircraft I went to also had different hardware in different places; (comparing the Captain's and First Officers Yoke covers; the hardware was all different and installed in different places). I explained that I could not identify what the hardware was and could not cannibalize it due to that fact. The Supervisor then told the Crew Chief that I needed to go with the sheet metal guy so he could teach me how to identify hardware because I didn't know how. I told the Crew Chief that's fine; but we would still not know what the part numbers of the hardware was; because it is not printed on the hardware. I do not feel comfortable guessing if this was the correct hardware or not; and I explained this to the Supervisor. I was told that the Supervisor thinks I was refusing to do the job and trying to delay the aircraft from leaving. I told him I was not trying to do anything of the sort. I explained that I would not guess at what hardware I was installing and needed the correct hardware with proper paperwork. The sheet metal guy even told him he did not know if the hardware from the other aircraft was the correct hardware; because there are no part numbers on them. The Supervisor still insisted on canning (robbing) hardware from another aircraft; I told him I would get the hardware and install it for him if that is what he wants done; but I would not sign the work off; because the hardware was unidentifiable. He was getting angry and putting more pressure on me do this. I felt he was trying to pressure me to just make this problem go away. Eventually he told me to leave and I do not know what he had done to install the parts because my shift was over.This event has been really upsetting and very unnecessary. The event occurred because the Supervisor wanted the ATR-72 out; but I refused to do it the incorrect way. I suggested having the parts we need to fix the aircraft; so supervisors do not try to pressure people into doing the wrong thing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.