 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Pilot of atx during ramp check with FAA inspector in attendance tightened a screw in the aircraft tail cone. Reporter now concerned that FAA will make an issue of aircraft repair without certification by mechanic.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 192067 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199110 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : lax |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dawn |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : lvk |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport |
| Flight Phase | ground : preflight |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time total : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 192067 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified cockpit other other : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was ramp checked at the above noted time and place by FAA inspector of the los angeles FSDO. While accompanying me on the preflight inspection, he noticed a loose screw in the aft tail cone assembly. After pointing out the discrepancy to me I tightened the loose screw with my fuel tester/screw driver. After talking to my company about the aforementioned incident, I realized I was probably in violation of regulations forbidding anyone not a licensed mechanic to correct discrepancies. I would attribute this error to a lack of experience in part 135 air carrier operations. My automatic, common sense reaction in 6 yrs of aviation including 2000 flying hours was to tighten a loose screw on the preflight. To correct further occurrences of this type of violation, I suggest an exception be made for instances where no repair is actually being made, that the pilot be allowed to correct these minor discrepancies. Either that or another clause written into the regulation that makes it more clear that airmen are absolutely forbidden to correct any discrepancies.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF ATX DURING RAMP CHK WITH FAA INSPECTOR IN ATTENDANCE TIGHTENED A SCREW IN THE ACFT TAIL CONE. RPTR NOW CONCERNED THAT FAA WILL MAKE AN ISSUE OF ACFT REPAIR WITHOUT CERTIFICATION BY MECH.
Narrative: I WAS RAMP CHKED AT THE ABOVE NOTED TIME AND PLACE BY FAA INSPECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES FSDO. WHILE ACCOMPANYING ME ON THE PREFLT INSPECTION, HE NOTICED A LOOSE SCREW IN THE AFT TAIL CONE ASSEMBLY. AFTER POINTING OUT THE DISCREPANCY TO ME I TIGHTENED THE LOOSE SCREW WITH MY FUEL TESTER/SCREW DRIVER. AFTER TALKING TO MY COMPANY ABOUT THE AFOREMENTIONED INCIDENT, I REALIZED I WAS PROBABLY IN VIOLATION OF REGS FORBIDDING ANYONE NOT A LICENSED MECH TO CORRECT DISCREPANCIES. I WOULD ATTRIBUTE THIS ERROR TO A LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN PART 135 ACR OPS. MY AUTOMATIC, COMMON SENSE REACTION IN 6 YRS OF AVIATION INCLUDING 2000 FLYING HRS WAS TO TIGHTEN A LOOSE SCREW ON THE PREFLT. TO CORRECT FURTHER OCCURRENCES OF THIS TYPE OF VIOLATION, I SUGGEST AN EXCEPTION BE MADE FOR INSTANCES WHERE NO REPAIR IS ACTUALLY BEING MADE, THAT THE PLT BE ALLOWED TO CORRECT THESE MINOR DISCREPANCIES. EITHER THAT OR ANOTHER CLAUSE WRITTEN INTO THE REG THAT MAKES IT MORE CLR THAT AIRMEN ARE ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN TO CORRECT ANY DISCREPANCIES.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.