Narrative:

I was called over to help mechanic Y with an [overhead] passenger service unit (psu); he was having problems with the safety pin and lanyard pin [for the oxygen generator canister]. When I got on the crj-900 aircraft; the psu was on his lap with only one pin in [the oxygen generator]; just enough 'not to go off'. I took the psu from him and removed him and the psu from the aircraft. I worked on it with him on the table. Corrected the problem; but in the process broke the safety pin (when we removed/replaced (right/right) the psu; we usually take the safety pin from the new [psu's oxygen generator] and install the pin on the old [removed generator] for unserviceable tag purposes). I was under the impression that we had none [no extra safety pins]. The mechanic asked me how we should do [fill-out] the unserviceable tag [section]. I said label [tag] to where stores (parts) could see and read that there is no safety pin installed; and they will not ship until we get one installed. The mechanic did so. At this point I asked if they need anymore help and I left to the next aircraft. I think this event occurred for two reasons:one; we assumed that we had no safety pins; because we used the pin from the new one (psu); and two; we assumed that stores/parts would read the caution on the front of the psu and not ship the part with no pin installed. One suggestion would be to make a task card for removal and replacement (right/right) of psu and have a supervisor or inspector task block [sign-off] to check to make sure safety pin is installed in [oxygen] generator before putting the part on the unserviceable tag shelf. Also; have stores double-check and inspect parts before sending out. The psu was shipped out even after maintenance labeled the psu. The vendor's shop detected that the O2 generator had no safety pin installed after stores shipped it out.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Three mechanics report why a safety pin was not installed in an Oxygen Generator that was removed with a Passenger Service Unit (PSU) from a CRJ-900 aircraft and inadvertently shipped to a repair Vendor. The PSU was removed due to a Flight Attendant's 'Call Button' that would not reset because of an internal electrical circuit board shorting-out.

Narrative: I was called over to help Mechanic Y with an [overhead] Passenger Service Unit (PSU); he was having problems with the Safety pin and Lanyard pin [for the Oxygen Generator canister]. When I got on the CRJ-900 aircraft; the PSU was on his lap with only one pin in [the oxygen generator]; just enough 'not to go off'. I took the PSU from him and removed him and the PSU from the aircraft. I worked on it with him on the table. Corrected the problem; but in the process broke the safety pin (when we Removed/Replaced (R/R) the PSU; we usually take the safety pin from the new [PSU's Oxygen generator] and install the pin on the old [removed generator] for Unserviceable Tag purposes). I was under the impression that we had none [no extra safety pins]. The Mechanic asked me how we should do [fill-out] the Unserviceable Tag [section]. I said label [Tag] to where Stores (Parts) could see and read that there is no safety pin installed; and they will not ship until we get one installed. The Mechanic did so. At this point I asked if they need anymore help and I left to the next aircraft. I think this event occurred for two reasons:One; we assumed that we had no safety pins; because we used the pin from the new one (PSU); and Two; we assumed that Stores/Parts would read the caution on the front of the PSU and not ship the part with no pin installed. One suggestion would be to make a Task Card for Removal and Replacement (R/R) of PSU and have a Supervisor or Inspector task block [sign-off] to check to make sure safety pin is installed in [oxygen] generator before putting the part on the Unserviceable Tag shelf. Also; have Stores double-check and inspect parts before sending out. The PSU was shipped out even after Maintenance labeled the PSU. The Vendor's shop detected that the O2 Generator had no safety pin installed after Stores shipped it out.

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.