Narrative:

I was tasked to remove and replace the upper actuator on the left hand thrust reverser; on the number 2 engine. The rod end was written up for being broken. Looking for the part number; I looked through the ipc and was having difficulty looking for an available part. The ipc points you to the ge cmm and notates ge spec 1477m56p03 for applicable alt part numbers. When looking in the cmm for the CF680C ipc (78-32-11-10 item 16A); it shows part number 3275538-3; that also cross references to our ipc for the md-11 (78-32-15-01 item 40). In the cmm; it shows 2 part numbers in the comments as altitude pn 3272602-3 and 3272602-4. Another contributing factor to the confusion; when ordering either part number in the company system; both part numbers; 3272602-3 and 3272602-4; show up as the same cpn (company part number). As I was comfortable; I was installing the correct part on to the aircraft; I continued with the install.I was notified four days later of the possible incorrect part install by a company qa auditor by email. I then did the research and provided him with screen shots and documentation showing all that I have explained. Also; I was contacted by email and by phone and I was explained that starting at the buildup process; form 8130; and company serviceable tag were possibly incorrect; and that the part may have been incorrectly tagged from the vendor.possible corrections could be to clear up the confusion between the manuals if the part number applicability is incorrect; and correct the cpn confusion that makes it seem that the part is interchangeable; especially if the parts are not compatible between 2 different aircraft types.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Maintenance Technician reported that after replacing a reverser actuator using an alternate part number; he was informed that the part may have had an incorrect parts tag.

Narrative: I was tasked to remove and replace the upper actuator on the left hand thrust reverser; on the Number 2 engine. The rod end was written up for being broken. Looking for the part number; I looked through the IPC and was having difficulty looking for an available part. The IPC points you to the GE CMM and notates GE Spec 1477M56P03 for applicable alt part numbers. When looking in the CMM for the CF680C IPC (78-32-11-10 Item 16A); it shows part number 3275538-3; that also cross references to our IPC for the MD-11 (78-32-15-01 Item 40). In the CMM; it shows 2 part numbers in the comments as ALT PN 3272602-3 and 3272602-4. Another contributing factor to the confusion; when ordering either part number in the company system; both part numbers; 3272602-3 and 3272602-4; show up as the same CPN (Company Part Number). As I was comfortable; I was installing the correct part on to the aircraft; I continued with the install.I was notified four days later of the possible incorrect part install by a company QA auditor by email. I then did the research and provided him with screen shots and documentation showing all that I have explained. Also; I was contacted by email and by phone and I was explained that starting at the buildup process; Form 8130; and company serviceable tag were possibly incorrect; and that the part may have been incorrectly tagged from the vendor.Possible corrections could be to clear up the confusion between the manuals if the part number applicability is incorrect; and correct the CPN confusion that makes it seem that the part is interchangeable; especially if the parts are not compatible between 2 different aircraft types.

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.