Narrative:

An electronic news gathering helicopter was due [for] a 100-hour airframe plus several hourly engine inspections. Operations would not take the aircraft out of service due to another news helicopter being unavailable. It was decided to do the 100-hour in a manner that would allow the aircraft to be put back in service within 10 minutes if operations needed it. Upon reviewing the work order and aircraft status record; several inspection items were not completed; but on the status record were entered as completed. The work order form was lacking 'inspector' signatures; the 'instruction for continued airworthiness inspections' were not signed off; and the engine 100-hour and 750-hour inspection items were not all completed. The log entry stated all inspections were done. The engine manufacturer's inspection requires a 100-hour engine health inspection. This was not completed and not signed-off on the inspection form. The aircraft was returned to service without a complete inspection in accordance with the manufacture's recommendations. The aircraft is operated under part 135 and a log statement requires the aircraft to be maintained in accordance with (in accordance with) far part 91.409.F.3.; the manufacturer's recommended inspection program. This was not accomplished. The repair station procedures for completing a work order and a return to service (rts) log entry were not followed. Consequences: aircraft placed back in service with overdue inspection items.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Quality Assurance (QA) Lead Technician reports about one of their AS-350 Eurocopter's that was placed back in service with overdue Airframe and Powerplant 100-Hour and 700-Hour inspection items not completed. His company operations had contracted with a news gathering organization to provide an AS-350 on short notice. He notified his Director of Maintenance (DOM) about the non-compliance; but the response was not very supportive of his concerns.

Narrative: An electronic news gathering helicopter was due [for] a 100-hour airframe plus several hourly engine inspections. Operations would not take the aircraft out of service due to another news helicopter being unavailable. It was decided to do the 100-hour in a manner that would allow the aircraft to be put back in service within 10 minutes if operations needed it. Upon reviewing the Work Order and Aircraft Status Record; several inspection items were not completed; but on the status record were entered as completed. The work order form was lacking 'Inspector' signatures; the 'Instruction for Continued Airworthiness Inspections' were not signed off; and the Engine 100-hour and 750-hour inspection items were not all completed. The log entry stated all inspections were done. The Engine manufacturer's inspection requires a 100-hour Engine Health Inspection. This was not completed and not signed-off on the inspection form. The aircraft was returned to service without a complete inspection in accordance with the manufacture's recommendations. The aircraft is operated under Part 135 and a log statement requires the aircraft to be maintained In Accordance With (IAW) FAR Part 91.409.F.3.; the manufacturer's recommended inspection program. This was not accomplished. The Repair Station procedures for completing a Work Order and a Return to Service (RTS) log entry were not followed. Consequences: aircraft placed back in service with overdue inspection items.

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.