Narrative:

While completing my assigned maintenance visit check; paragraph 20; on [a B737 ng aircraft;] I found a one and one quarter inch (1-1/4 inch) crack in the [main] wheel well on the forward pressure bulkhead; fuselage station XXX right body line (rbl) 40; approximately three inches down from the ceiling. I took pictures of the area for engineering and had inspection verify the crack using high-frequency eddy current (hfec). The crack was visible while standing in the right wheel well on the ground and without the use of stands or ladders. The crack is in an exposed chemical milled pocket on the bulkhead. The crack started in the radius of the chemical milled [section] and was continuing to follow the radius of the pocket; which; [if] left unchecked; would have resulted in a six inch diameter pocket blow out with a rapid pressurization loss event. During my time on the line routine overnight (ron) shift I have found numerous cracks; and regardless of the check being performed have reported them; to have them repaired and the planes returned to a safe and airworthy status. Keeping our planes in a safe and airworthy condition is and has always been my number one priority at our company. There is no structural repair manual (srm) or engineering relief for this un-airworthy condition to continue in service without immediate repair. Our maintenance procedures manual (mpm) xx-xx-xx states; 'any abnormalities or defects are recorded (written up) on the documents for inclusion in the work package'. Mpm xx-xx-xx states; 'regardless of the level of inspection accomplished; the priority is to ensure aircraft are maintained in a condition for continued safe operation.' other amt's at this and other stations are finding these defects at all levels of checks on overnight inspections. I am concerned that fear of being brought to an investigation with possible disciplinary actions will only deter amt's from finding and reporting un-airworthy conditions; resulting in unsafe aircraft being returned to service to carry passengers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) reports about finding a crack at the forward pressure bulkhead; three inches down from the main wheel well ceiling on B737 NG aircraft. Noted cracks are a NO-GO item. Concerns raised that cracks might lead to rapid depressurization event.

Narrative: While completing my assigned Maintenance Visit Check; paragraph 20; on [a B737 NG aircraft;] I found a one and one quarter inch (1-1/4 inch) crack in the [Main] wheel well on the forward pressure bulkhead; Fuselage Station XXX Right Body Line (RBL) 40; approximately three inches down from the ceiling. I took pictures of the area for Engineering and had Inspection verify the crack using High-Frequency Eddy Current (HFEC). The crack was visible while standing in the right wheel well on the ground and without the use of stands or ladders. The crack is in an exposed chemical milled pocket on the bulkhead. The crack started in the radius of the chemical milled [section] and was continuing to follow the radius of the pocket; which; [if] left unchecked; would have resulted in a six inch diameter pocket blow out with a rapid pressurization loss event. During my time on the Line Routine Overnight (RON) shift I have found numerous cracks; and regardless of the check being performed have reported them; to have them repaired and the planes returned to a SAFE and AIRWORTHY STATUS. Keeping our planes in a safe and airworthy condition is and has always been my number one priority at our Company. There is no Structural Repair Manual (SRM) or Engineering relief for this un-airworthy condition to continue in service without immediate repair. Our Maintenance Procedures Manual (MPM) XX-XX-XX states; 'Any abnormalities or defects are recorded (written up) on the documents for inclusion in the work package'. MPM XX-XX-XX states; 'Regardless of the level of inspection accomplished; the priority is to ensure aircraft are maintained in a condition for continued safe operation.' Other AMT's at this and other stations are finding these defects at all levels of checks on overnight inspections. I am concerned that fear of being brought to an investigation with possible disciplinary actions will only deter AMT's from finding and reporting UN-AIRWORTHY Conditions; resulting in UNSAFE aircraft being returned to service to carry passengers.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.