Narrative:

A B737 aircraft was scheduled to depart. The flight crew made it aware to us (maintenance) that their N1 gauge on the #1 engine was cracked in the corner. Soon after that; I called maintenance control and reported our finding; we were told there was no MEL relief. I then called maintenance control for aircraft on ground (aog) and I was told that air carrier X at a nearby airport had a gauge for us to borrow. After an hour or so; I received the part. I then called maintenance control about the paperwork process and I was told to follow the maintenance procedures manual (mpm). The next call to maintenance control; I told them I had a part; but needed help on the paperwork process for receiving inspection. I was asked if I was inspection qualified and I replied yes. I was told to again follow the mpm for the loan/borrow process. I went into our computer illustrated parts catalog (ipc) and found the borrowed part that was effective for our aircraft. I looked into our new computerized maintenance program and typed in loan/borrow in the search engine. I got several hits but the one that stuck out was; what I believed was my situation [described in the] mpm. There is a note stating if I can't get a tracking number by an individual in maintenance control for aog; use all 0's (zeros) for block-2 on the engineering form and in the computer's aircraft parts entry.I proceeded to fill out the engineering form by hand and finished with the receiving inspection [of the N1 gauge]. I then told my partner; mechanic Y; to go ahead and install the part. After everything was installed and operational (ops) checked; I made copies of the all the paperwork and faxed everything to maintenance control. I assumed the paperwork would be applied to the correct screens [relevant departments] in our maintenance computer program when I returned five days later. That would be when the maintenance control individual [handling aog aircraft] would be on duty to look at all the loan/borrow'ed parts over the weekend. I entered everything in the maintenance computer and used 0's for the tracking tag on block. I knew this would trigger an unsuccessful records match that would flag our aircraft records department. Our maintenance computer accepted my logbook entry without a problem [using] air traffic area maintenance manual (M/M) chapter 77-12. I asked both maintenance control and the individual working aogs about the need to fill out an engineering form for the transaction of borrowed; and I was told by both desks that it would be handled later. I decided to look into the mpm on my first day back and it dawned on me about the procedures are clouded. We were under pressure with time constraints and lack of cooperation from other agencies. This procedure with borrowing parts from other carriers with a -X rotable [part number (P/north)] is pretty rare. I looked into our maintenance computer and saw the borrowed part was removed 'serviceable' and routed to our [stores] loan/borrow parts section. I decided to look into the mpm further and I found that the process is not that clear and needs to be refined for: outstations; aircraft out of service (aog); borrowing parts from other carriers; -X rotables and no stock clerk on duty; with an easy to read flow chart for your situation; and who to contact with responsibilities.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Mechanic reports a lack of clear procedures in their Maintenance Procedures Manuals (MPM) of who is responsible for the tracking of Borrowed/Robbed/Cannibalized parts used on their aircraft from other carriers. One of their B737 aircraft had been released with a 'Borrowed' N1 gauge part from another carrier.

Narrative: A B737 aircraft was scheduled to depart. The flight crew made it aware to us (Maintenance) that their N1 gauge on the #1 engine was cracked in the corner. Soon after that; I called Maintenance Control and reported our finding; we were told there was no MEL relief. I then called Maintenance Control for Aircraft on Ground (AOG) and I was told that Air Carrier X at a nearby airport had a gauge for us to borrow. After an hour or so; I received the part. I then called Maintenance Control about the paperwork process and I was told to follow the Maintenance Procedures Manual (MPM). The next call to Maintenance Control; I told them I had a part; but needed help on the paperwork process for Receiving Inspection. I was asked if I was Inspection qualified and I replied yes. I was told to again follow the MPM for the LOAN/BORROW process. I went into our computer Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and found the borrowed part that was effective for our aircraft. I looked into our new computerized Maintenance Program and typed in LOAN/BORROW in the search engine. I got several hits but the one that stuck out was; what I believed was my situation [described in the] MPM. There is a note stating if I can't get a tracking number by an individual in Maintenance Control for AOG; use all 0's (zeros) for Block-2 on the Engineering form and in the computer's Aircraft Parts entry.I proceeded to fill out the Engineering form by hand and finished with the Receiving Inspection [of the N1 gauge]. I then told my partner; Mechanic Y; to go ahead and install the part. After everything was installed and Operational (Ops) checked; I made copies of the all the paperwork and faxed everything to Maintenance Control. I assumed the paperwork would be applied to the correct screens [relevant departments] in our Maintenance Computer Program when I returned five days later. That would be when the Maintenance Control individual [handling AOG aircraft] would be on duty to look at all the LOAN/BORROW'ed parts over the weekend. I entered everything in the Maintenance Computer and used 0's for the tracking tag on block. I knew this would trigger an Unsuccessful Records Match that would flag our Aircraft Records Department. Our Maintenance Computer accepted my Logbook entry without a problem [using] ATA Maintenance Manual (M/M) Chapter 77-12. I asked both Maintenance Control and the individual working AOGs about the need to fill out an Engineering form for the transaction of BORROWED; and I was told by both desks that it would be handled later. I decided to look into the MPM on my first day back and it dawned on me about the procedures are clouded. We were under pressure with time constraints and lack of cooperation from other agencies. This procedure with borrowing parts from other carriers with a -X Rotable [Part Number (P/N)] is pretty rare. I looked into our Maintenance Computer and saw the borrowed part was removed 'Serviceable' and routed to our [Stores] LOAN/BORROW Parts section. I decided to look into the MPM further and I found that the process is not that clear and needs to be refined for: Outstations; Aircraft Out of Service (AOG); borrowing parts from other carriers; -X Rotables and No Stock Clerk on duty; with an easy to read Flow Chart for your situation; and who to contact with responsibilities.

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.