A B737-800 captain reports a rudder balance arm (weight) was found pitted; corroded and pieces crumb...

Narrative:

Rudder balance arm -tungsten metal weight- corroded and pitted. Closer inspection showed surface no longer smooth; [it was] pitted and crumbling. Pieces crumbled into pilot's hand. No samples taken. Upon second request local maintenance would not provide access to get samples. Maintenance control provided detailed guidance and engineering release. Initial logbook release classified the rudder flight control balance arm as a 'nef' (non-essential function) item; applicable to 'paint' on fuselage and limited cabin items. Captain insisted on defining the flight control-rudder balance arm as a stand alone item requiring maintenance as such. Chief pilot on duty consulted with crew and concurred that departure was in compliance with air carrier procedures with an engineering release. Referred to channels for determination on acceleration of rust after teflon coating and paint departs from the rudder balance arm.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 Captain reports a rudder balance arm (weight) was found pitted; corroded and pieces crumbled in his hand. Captain refused the Non-Essential Function (NEF) deferral and insisted the rudder balance weight be defined as a stand alone item requiring maintenance.

Narrative: Rudder balance arm -tungsten metal weight- corroded and pitted. Closer inspection showed surface no longer smooth; [it was] pitted and crumbling. Pieces crumbled into pilot's hand. No samples taken. Upon second request local maintenance would not provide access to get samples. Maintenance Control provided detailed guidance and Engineering Release. Initial Logbook Release classified the rudder flight control balance arm as a 'NEF' (Non-Essential Function) item; applicable to 'paint' on fuselage and limited cabin items. Captain insisted on defining the Flight control-rudder balance arm as a stand alone item requiring maintenance as such. Chief Pilot on duty consulted with crew and concurred that departure was in compliance with Air Carrier procedures with an Engineering Release. Referred to channels for determination on acceleration of rust after Teflon coating and paint departs from the rudder balance arm.

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.

Attributes
ACN	928918
Time
Date	201101
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Rudder Control System
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A B737-800 captain reports a rudder balance arm (weight) was found pitted; corroded and pieces crumbled in his hand. Captain refused the non-essential function (nef) deferral and insisted the rudder balance weight be defined as a stand alone item requiring maintenance.