Narrative:

This is a safety concern report only. I was being pressured by maintenance control to sign off a discrepancy on an emb/erj-140. The pilot report was electrical smoke/fumes in the flight deck; while in flight. An emergency landing was performed into ZZZ. I arrived at ZZZ; and there was a flight crew at the aircraft that was sent there by maintenance control; not the same crew that wrote up the problem. Maintenance control told me the (maintenance) turn-over read that contract maintenance could not find anything wrong; although they did not document that in the logbook. Maintenance control said I was sent just to get the aircraft back; that's why the flight crew was standing by the aircraft when we arrived. I refused and told maintenance control the aircraft needed to be inspected for the source of the smoke in the cockpit; maintenance control was then angry because the crew was then sent to the hotel. I also asked maintenance control if this should be a 'service difficulty report'? I was told; 'you let us decide; but probably not.' I found the chart holder had a live (electrical) wire loose in the chart holder; but I could not prove this caused the smoke; so I requested a restricted flight cycle deferral; but maintenance control did not want this; so they called mr X at ZZZ1 to pressure me and told him that I would not comply with maintenance control. But after explaining the situation to mr X; he agreed with me and he said he would call maintenance operations and maintenance control and set them straight. As a note I don't have this trouble with all the maintenance controllers; but there are a few I have had repeated problems with. I determined the event had occurred because I performed aircraft maintenance in accordance with (in accordance with) the far's; general procedures manual (gpm); and with the highest regard to safety. I want to make sure the aircraft is safe; because of this I came into conflict with maintenance control. Maintenance control wanted the aircraft right now. They tried to pressure me into signing the aircraft off; and were telling me I could not open up areas to inspect electrical wiring and such. I requested to talk with maintenance operations; but the controller refused my request many times. This has been a systemic problem with maintenance control; and just keeps getting worse. I don't know what to suggest to avoid a recurrence other than that I just keep following the established procedures; but I do this at the extreme risk of being sent home for investigations against me that never have resulted in any wrong doing on my part. I am just trying to do my job the way the company and the FAA require. When on these road trips I have to call inspectors and the safety department all the time to get their advice on these events with maintenance control.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Mechanic reports being pressured by Maintenance Control to sign-off an EMB/ERJ-140 aircraft that had landed in emergency conditions due to electrical smoke and fumes in the Flight deck.

Narrative: This is a safety concern report only. I was being pressured by Maintenance Control to sign off a discrepancy on an EMB/ERJ-140. The Pilot report was electrical smoke/fumes in the Flight deck; while in flight. An Emergency landing was performed into ZZZ. I arrived at ZZZ; and there was a Flight Crew at the aircraft that was sent there by Maintenance Control; not the same Crew that wrote up the problem. Maintenance Control told me the (Maintenance) turn-over read that Contract Maintenance could not find anything wrong; although they did not document that in the logbook. Maintenance Control said I was sent just to get the aircraft back; that's why the Flight Crew was standing by the aircraft when we arrived. I refused and told Maintenance Control the aircraft needed to be Inspected for the source of the smoke in the cockpit; Maintenance Control was then angry because the Crew was then sent to the hotel. I also asked Maintenance Control if this should be a 'Service Difficulty Report'? I was told; 'you let us decide; but probably not.' I found the Chart holder had a live (electrical) wire loose in the Chart holder; but I could not prove this caused the smoke; so I requested a restricted flight cycle deferral; but Maintenance Control did not want this; so they called Mr X at ZZZ1 to pressure me and told him that I would not comply with Maintenance Control. But after explaining the situation to Mr X; he agreed with me and he said he would call Maintenance Operations and Maintenance Control and set them straight. As a note I don't have this trouble with all the Maintenance Controllers; but there are a few I have had repeated problems with. I determined the event had occurred because I performed aircraft maintenance in accordance with (IAW) the FAR's; General Procedures Manual (GPM); and with the highest regard to safety. I want to make sure the aircraft is safe; because of this I came into conflict with Maintenance Control. Maintenance Control wanted the aircraft right now. They tried to pressure me into signing the aircraft off; and were telling me I could not open up areas to Inspect electrical wiring and such. I requested to talk with Maintenance Operations; but the Controller refused my request many times. This has been a systemic problem with Maintenance Control; and just keeps getting worse. I don't know what to suggest to avoid a recurrence other than that I just keep following the established procedures; but I do this at the extreme risk of being sent home for investigations against me that never have resulted in any wrong doing on my part. I am just trying to do my job the way the company and the FAA require. When on these road trips I have to call Inspectors and the Safety department all the time to get their advice on these events with Maintenance Control.

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.