Narrative:

This is a follow-up to a previous report. Following discovery of damage to the recirculation (recirc) fan filter box support [rods] on aircraft X and Y; I submitted the aforementioned report to recommend a repair and/or inspection procedure for the B767-300 fleet. Engineering came back with the following response: 'after discussion within engineering; our position is that neither an inspection program; nor redesign of the installation is warranted.'may 2012; I discovered the same support rods damaged on aircraft Z; [another B767-300]; while performing a galley spill inspection. The damage on both rods exceeded the limits in maintenance manual (MM) 21-25-05-6. The support rods on aircraft a were cannibalized (robbed) for aircraft Z. [But the support rods from aircraft a] were also found damaged beyond MM limits. We tried to obtain a line engineering authorization (lea) for aircraft Z to allow the damaged support rods; but were denied by engineering.the may 2012 incident; culminating in two out of service (OTS) aircraft for damaged support rods; substantiates my previous concerns. The recirc filter box support rods are prone to damage from containers in the forward cargo compartment. Only a nylon curtain separates the support rods from a bulging container. I suspect a large number of the B767-300 aircraft are flying with damaged support rods. Suggest an ankle-high barrier across the width of the recirc fan compartment would protect the support rods.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Inspector reports he has found numerous B767-300 aircraft with damaged Recirculation Fan Filter Box support rods behind the aft bulkhead nylon curtain in the forward cargo compartment. Damaged rods were noted while he was accomplishing Galley Spill Inspections.

Narrative: This is a follow-up to a previous report. Following discovery of damage to the Recirculation (Recirc) Fan Filter box support [rods] on Aircraft X and Y; I submitted the aforementioned report to recommend a repair and/or inspection procedure for the B767-300 fleet. Engineering came back with the following response: 'After discussion within engineering; our position is that neither an Inspection Program; nor redesign of the installation is warranted.'May 2012; I discovered the same support rods damaged on Aircraft Z; [another B767-300]; while performing a Galley Spill Inspection. The damage on both rods exceeded the limits in Maintenance Manual (MM) 21-25-05-6. The support rods on Aircraft A were cannibalized (robbed) for Aircraft Z. [But the support rods from Aircraft A] were also found damaged beyond MM limits. We tried to obtain a Line Engineering Authorization (LEA) for Aircraft Z to allow the damaged support rods; but were denied by Engineering.The May 2012 incident; culminating in two Out of Service (OTS) aircraft for damaged support rods; substantiates my previous concerns. The Recirc Filter Box support rods are prone to damage from containers in the Forward Cargo Compartment. Only a nylon curtain separates the support rods from a bulging container. I suspect a large number of the B767-300 aircraft are flying with damaged support rods. Suggest an ankle-high barrier across the width of the Recirc Fan compartment would protect the support rods.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.