Pilot on preflight check with aci performed minor maintenance on aircraft at suggestion of aci.

Attributes
ACN	108519
Time
Date	198904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anc
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2350 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	108519
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was ramp checked by an FAA inspector. He noticed that the navigation light holder on the right wingtip was slightly loose. He pointed it out to me and said, 'if you have a screwdriver you should tighten that up, I'm afraid you may lose it in flight'. I had a screwdriver in my pocket and did as he suggested and thanked him. He did not mention any other discrepancies and said goodbye. Upon returning to our office I was advised by our director of operations and chief pilot that I was in fact performing maintenance and would receive a notice of violation for the action. I tightened the screw believing I was complying with the FAA inspector's wishes. Knowing that regulations do not allow a pilot under part 135 to perform even such trivial maintenance, I now realize I should have refused to tighten the screw.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON PREFLT CHECK WITH ACI PERFORMED MINOR MAINTENANCE ON ACFT AT SUGGESTION OF ACI.

Narrative: I WAS RAMP CHECKED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR. HE NOTICED THAT THE NAVIGATION LIGHT HOLDER ON THE RIGHT WINGTIP WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE. HE POINTED IT OUT TO ME AND SAID, 'IF YOU HAVE A SCREWDRIVER YOU SHOULD TIGHTEN THAT UP, I'M AFRAID YOU MAY LOSE IT IN FLT'. I HAD A SCREWDRIVER IN MY POCKET AND DID AS HE SUGGESTED AND THANKED HIM. HE DID NOT MENTION ANY OTHER DISCREPANCIES AND SAID GOODBYE. UPON RETURNING TO OUR OFFICE I WAS ADVISED BY OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND CHIEF PLT THAT I WAS IN FACT PERFORMING MAINT AND WOULD RECEIVE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION FOR THE ACTION. I TIGHTENED THE SCREW BELIEVING I WAS COMPLYING WITH THE FAA INSPECTOR'S WISHES. KNOWING THAT REGULATIONS DO NOT ALLOW A PLT UNDER PART 135 TO PERFORM EVEN SUCH TRIVIAL MAINT, I NOW REALIZE I SHOULD HAVE REFUSED TO TIGHTEN THE SCREW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.