Narrative:

I was working the b-check on aircraft X; an md-83 aircraft. I always work the tail [section]. We were performing the horizontal stabilizer task cards and noticed the elliptical motion on the [horizontal stab] jackscrew. I told my lead about it. I told the line engineer mr. X about it. He called maintenance control to report it. They said they would check the manuals for run-out information. They called back to report that the maintenance manual (M/M) did not have any information. They found in the unit [component] overhaul manual that [jackscrew] run out of .004' of an inch; is maximum allowed. Mr. X and I performed a dial indicator run out on the jackscrew and it was .070' of an inch. When mr. X told maintenance control; they planned a jackscrew replacement. The following evening on my entering work I noticed aircraft X was gone. An engineer; mr. Y; had given aircraft X a line engineering order to allow .070' run out on aircraft X. This was done after our air carrier realized that they did not have a jackscrew in stock; or have access to one. In my opinion this aircraft is unairworthy. I believe our air carrier is not willing to 'ground' an aircraft; or buy an expensive part for an aging aircraft that might be parked in less than two years. It strikes me very strange that they were planning to change the jackscrew until they realized that they did not have one.I am an airframe and powerplant mechanic with an ia [rating]. I expect [my] air carrier to comply with airworthiness issues properly; as I am expected to do. What did the engineer mr.Y have for documentation to allow the line engineering order [to be issued]? I think possibly the FAA should revise air directive ad-2000-15-15 to include inspection of [horizontal stab] jackscrew for out of round or elliptical movement.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) suggests that FAA should revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-15-15 to include inspection of the Horizontal Stabilizer Jackscrew (J/S) shaft for an out of round; or elliptical run-out movement. His company engineering had released an MD-83 aircraft for service with an excessive; visible; wobble of the Horizontal Stabilizer Jackscrew (J/S) that was noticed during a B-Check.

Narrative: I was working the B-Check on Aircraft X; an MD-83 aircraft. I always work the tail [section]. We were performing the Horizontal Stabilizer Task Cards and noticed the elliptical motion on the [Horizontal Stab] Jackscrew. I told my Lead about it. I told the Line Engineer Mr. X about it. He called Maintenance Control to report it. They said they would check the Manuals for Run-Out information. They called back to report that the Maintenance Manual (M/M) did not have any information. They found in the unit [Component] Overhaul Manual that [jackscrew] run out of .004' of an inch; is maximum allowed. Mr. X and I performed a Dial Indicator run out on the jackscrew and it was .070' of an inch. When Mr. X told Maintenance Control; they planned a jackscrew replacement. The following evening on my entering work I noticed Aircraft X was gone. An Engineer; Mr. Y; had given Aircraft X a Line Engineering Order to allow .070' run out on Aircraft X. This was done after our Air Carrier realized that they did not have a jackscrew in stock; or have access to one. In my opinion this aircraft is unairworthy. I believe our Air Carrier is not willing to 'Ground' an aircraft; or buy an expensive part for an aging aircraft that might be parked in less than two years. It strikes me very strange that they were planning to change the jackscrew until they realized that they did not have one.I am an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic with an IA [rating]. I expect [my] Air Carrier to comply with airworthiness issues properly; as I am expected to do. What did the Engineer Mr.Y have for documentation to allow the Line Engineering Order [to be issued]? I think possibly the FAA should revise Air Directive AD-2000-15-15 to include inspection of [Horizontal Stab] Jackscrew for out of round or elliptical movement.

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.