Narrative:

Aircraft X had fan blade damage written up against engine #1 and the damage was researched and signed off as within limits. After further investigation it was noted that the same blades had been written up previously and signed off. As per the procedures manual; damage to engine fan blades are to be reworked in accordance with manual or other approved data requirements and must be properly documented by completion of aml or non-routine; but are not to be entered into the maintenance history. If there is a question as to whether damage to a blade has been dispositioned; it is to be re-evaluated against the manual limits. A lot of time went into investigating the damage and repair limits when the blades had been documented and signed off previously. It is not normal to go into the computer and research work already previously performed. Had this aircraft been at the gate and loading passengers and found by the crew doing preflight walk around the flight most likely would have been delayed or canceled. There needs to be a way to document that the fan blades had been previously written up and investigated for serviceability to prevent future delays and cancelations. Update procedures manual to allow documentation into [the] maintenance history file and a yellow paint dot be placed on blades in question giving the pilot a heads up that the blade damage had already been investigated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Technician reported damaged fan blades on a routine inspection and determining that the fan blades had already been inspected previously and were within limits for service.

Narrative: Aircraft X had fan blade damage written up against Engine #1 and the damage was researched and signed off as within limits. After further investigation it was noted that the same blades had been written up previously and signed off. As per the Procedures Manual; damage to engine fan blades are to be reworked in accordance with manual or other approved data requirements and must be properly documented by completion of AML or non-routine; but are not to be entered into the Maintenance History. If there is a question as to whether damage to a blade has been dispositioned; it is to be re-evaluated against the manual limits. A lot of time went into investigating the damage and repair limits when the blades had been documented and signed off previously. It is not normal to go into the computer and research work already previously performed. Had this aircraft been at the gate and loading passengers and found by the crew doing preflight walk around the flight most likely would have been delayed or canceled. There needs to be a way to document that the fan blades had been previously written up and investigated for serviceability to prevent future delays and cancelations. Update Procedures Manual to allow documentation into [the] Maintenance History file and a yellow paint dot be placed on blades in question giving the pilot a heads up that the blade damage had already been investigated.

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.