Narrative:

While enroute to ZZZ; the flight attendant (flight attendant) informed the flight crew of a loud high pitched squeal coming from the main cabin door. The squeal was very evident over the interphone. There was no pressurization issue noted by the EICAS; just a very loud squealing noise. A prior flight crew wrote up the squealing door; which was later cleared (signed-off) by maintenance. Upon arrival into ZZZ; we notified maintenance control. Maintenance came out and informed us that the door seal needed to be replaced; however; as instructed; according to maintenance control; they proceeded to just use a gray/silver sealant to seal the top 3' to 4' inch section of the damaged door seal. I asked if a pressurization check was needed and they said 'yes'. I then asked if they were going to do one and they said; 'no' . After they applied the sealant to the door I asked if there was a cure time and how long it was. They said there was; but it wasn't long and there would be no need to wait. The captain also called maintenance control to ask about a cure time; and they convinced her there really wasn't a cure time for that type of sealant. Maintenance signed it off and said we were 'good to go'. As the passengers were boarding; we had to express extra emphasis on watching their heads on the door so that they didn't wipe the sealant off with their hair/heads. I bring this safety concern because I don't believe proper maintenance procedures were followed. Squealing door seals are preliminary indications of a weakening door seal which lead to cabin pressurization failures. Maintenance needs to follow proper corrective instructions to repair door seals; no matter how long it takes. Door seals are not deferrable for a good reason and should be repaired for the same.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A First Officer reports he doesn't believe proper Maintenance procedures were followed; when their Maintenance Control instructed Mechanics to only apply sealant to a missing section of seal at the left forward entry door cutout; without any 'cure' time or cabin pressurization check on their EMB-145 aircraft.

Narrative: While enroute to ZZZ; the Flight Attendant (FA) informed the Flight Crew of a loud high pitched squeal coming from the main cabin door. The squeal was very evident over the interphone. There was no pressurization issue noted by the EICAS; just a very loud squealing noise. A prior Flight Crew wrote up the squealing door; which was later cleared (Signed-off) by Maintenance. Upon arrival into ZZZ; we notified Maintenance Control. Maintenance came out and informed us that the door seal needed to be replaced; however; as instructed; according to Maintenance Control; they proceeded to just use a gray/silver sealant to seal the top 3' to 4' inch section of the damaged door seal. I asked if a pressurization check was needed and they said 'Yes'. I then asked if they were going to do one and they said; 'No' . After they applied the sealant to the door I asked if there was a cure time and how long it was. They said there was; but it wasn't long and there would be no need to wait. The Captain also called Maintenance Control to ask about a cure time; and they convinced her there really wasn't a cure time for that type of sealant. Maintenance Signed it off and said we were 'Good to Go'. As the passengers were boarding; we had to express extra emphasis on watching their heads on the door so that they didn't wipe the sealant off with their hair/heads. I bring this safety concern because I don't believe proper Maintenance procedures were followed. Squealing door seals are preliminary indications of a weakening door seal which lead to cabin pressurization failures. Maintenance needs to follow proper corrective instructions to repair door seals; no matter how long it takes. Door seals are not deferrable for a good reason and should be repaired for the same.

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.