Narrative:

At the crew meeting; the crew was informed of a road trip for a #2 engine spar valve electric actuator change. Another technician and I volunteered to go on the road trip with an inspector. When we arrived at the aircraft; we began to troubleshoot the engine shutdown at idle discrepancy and found the #2 spar valve inside the fuel tank did rotate when actuated manually from outside of the spar valve plate. We were informed by maintenance control that fuel tank divers were enroute and would arrive in a few hours. When the fuel crew arrived; we commenced to open the tank for them and stood by for them to change the #2 engine spar valve. When the valve was changed; I installed a new spar valve in accordance with maintenance manual which showed effective for the aircraft line number and illustrated parts catalog (ipc) item 46; which was installed on the B737-700 and showed effective for that aircraft. We were (later) informed that the part was not effective according to company reference manual because an engineering order was not complied with to let us use that part number (P/north); and being at an outstation we did not have access to our maintenance computer to check the online reference manual effectively. Upon receiving notice of this discrepancy; I searched the reference manual and found both P/north's showed effective for aircraft and the only notes match each other; it states; 'use only a specific valve number for aircraft line numbers or for post engineering order modification'. This confuses the person ordering the valve because the reference manual does not track engineering changes as far as I know. If the reference manual is to be utilized and to be error free; there should be a way to block different P/north parts from showing effective for an aircraft unless engineering orders have been complied with; or even have notes to drive a mechanic to check for different specific part numbers; or notes that state pre or post engineering order part effectivity. I will always be diligent to strive to be error free; but unfortunately this error was made. I hope changes will be made to prevent others from falling into the same predicament.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A fuel system spar valve was replaced at an out station with an incorrect part. Lack of access to information and manuals was cited as contributory.

Narrative: At the Crew meeting; the Crew was informed of a road trip for a #2 engine spar valve electric actuator change. Another technician and I volunteered to go on the road trip with an Inspector. When we arrived at the aircraft; we began to troubleshoot the engine shutdown at idle discrepancy and found the #2 spar valve inside the fuel tank did rotate when actuated manually from outside of the spar valve plate. We were informed by Maintenance Control that fuel tank divers were enroute and would arrive in a few hours. When the fuel crew arrived; we commenced to open the tank for them and stood by for them to change the #2 engine Spar valve. When the valve was changed; I installed a new spar valve in accordance with Maintenance Manual which showed effective for the aircraft line number and Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) item 46; which was installed on the B737-700 and showed effective for that aircraft. We were (later) informed that the part was not effective according to company reference manual because an engineering order was not complied with to let us use that part number (P/N); and being at an outstation we did not have access to our maintenance computer to check the online reference manual effectively. Upon receiving notice of this discrepancy; I searched the reference manual and found both P/N's showed effective for aircraft and the only notes match each other; it states; 'use only a specific valve number for aircraft line numbers or for post engineering order modification'. This confuses the person ordering the valve because the reference manual does not track engineering changes as far as I know. If the reference manual is to be utilized and to be error free; there should be a way to block different P/N parts from showing effective for an aircraft unless engineering orders have been complied with; or even have notes to drive a mechanic to check for different specific part numbers; or notes that state pre or post Engineering Order part effectivity. I will always be diligent to strive to be error free; but unfortunately this error was made. I hope changes will be made to prevent others from falling into the same predicament.

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.