Narrative:

I was working as part of a field service team working on a chronic no start and engine fuel valve problem. I was involved in troubleshooting the problem and helping replace the [wire] harness from the engine firewall and also various other troubleshooting tasks. In early july; I completed the reinstallation of the j-box (junction box) top cover and in the process used a 1/4' inch to 5/16' inch ratchet ring wrench. When I had finished this job; I went upstairs and cleaned the spanner [wrench] and had lunch.later that evening before we finished for the night; I asked a fellow mechanic to pass me the said wrench and we could not find the wrench. As it had been a long day we went to the hotel and would complete a thorough search in the morning. We returned in the morning the next day and carried out a thorough search of the engine. Four mechanics spent in excess of one hour and as much as two hours searching the engine using lights; mirrors and magnetic pick-up tools in the area above the heat shield. We also checked the tool box again and the ramp area. We accomplished a dry motor (engine run-no fuel) with cowling open to see if we could hear the wrench move. We then accomplished a series of six engine runs over several hours as part of our checks. We then opened cowls and searched again to ensure if wrench was there; and if it was; the [engines] runs would have moved its location. That afternoon I informed the engine desk of everything that we had done. I told them I was unable to say for certain where the wrench was but; that we had done everything we could to ensure it was not in the engine; but that I could not for certain say that it was not there. I asked that at the end of the ferry flight; that another search be accomplished in case the wrench was in the engine and had not moved. I also informed them that on my return to work I would file a report. I do not know the outcome of the event as we still have not found wrench and the ferry flight has not terminated so I am unsure as to the wrench's whereabouts. At the time that the wrench was noted as being missing; we were at the end of a second long day. I think if we had completed a search on that night then we would have been fatigued and the better option was to complete search the next day.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Technician reports about the intense efforts by himself and his Field Service Engine Repair Crew trying to locate a ratchet ring wrench that was misplaced during maintenance on a B767-200 aircraft engine for a chronic 'No Start' and Engine Fuel Valve problem.

Narrative: I was working as part of a Field Service Team working on a chronic No Start and Engine Fuel Valve problem. I was involved in troubleshooting the problem and helping replace the [wire] harness from the engine firewall and also various other troubleshooting tasks. In early July; I completed the reinstallation of the J-Box (Junction Box) top cover and in the process used a 1/4' inch to 5/16' inch Ratchet Ring wrench. When I had finished this job; I went upstairs and cleaned the Spanner [wrench] and had lunch.Later that evening before we finished for the night; I asked a fellow Mechanic to pass me the said wrench and we could not find the wrench. As it had been a long day we went to the hotel and would complete a thorough search in the morning. We returned in the morning the next day and carried out a thorough search of the engine. Four mechanics spent in excess of one hour and as much as two hours searching the engine using lights; mirrors and magnetic pick-up tools in the area above the heat shield. We also checked the tool box again and the ramp area. We accomplished a Dry Motor (Engine Run-no fuel) with cowling open to see if we could hear the wrench move. We then accomplished a series of six engine runs over several hours as part of our checks. We then opened cowls and searched again to ensure if wrench was there; and if it was; the [Engines] runs would have moved its location. That afternoon I informed the Engine Desk of everything that we had done. I told them I was unable to say for certain where the wrench was but; that we had done everything we could to ensure it was not in the engine; but that I could not for certain say that it was not there. I asked that at the end of the Ferry Flight; that another search be accomplished in case the wrench was in the engine and had not moved. I also informed them that on my return to work I would file a report. I do not know the outcome of the event as we still have not found wrench and the Ferry Flight has not terminated so I am unsure as to the wrench's whereabouts. At the time that the wrench was noted as being missing; we were at the end of a second long day. I think if we had completed a search on that night then we would have been fatigued and the better option was to complete search the next day.

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.