Mechanic for an FK100 signed off the aircraft log for a deferred MEL item after performing a pressur...

Attributes
ACN	357968
Time
Date	199701
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mci
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	357968
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

Aircraft arrived for remain overnight maintenance including tech service item to 'pressurize and do an lk down ck.' this aircraft had a long history in this area going back at least 3 weeks prior. Aircraft did not meet leak down limits and was dispatched under same MEL that it arrived with. Maintenance tech service was advised of test findings and failure. Local management was also informed. I was advised to make maintenance log entry reporting test findings which was done with maintenance item left 'open' with various seals programmed for replacement. Aircraft dispatched under same MEL it arrived with and been in service with. Aircraft was taken OTS later to be repaired. A question arose at that time -- 'should aircraft have stayed in service?' fokker maintenance manual unclr on that point and some MEL's unclr as to dispatch when certain system 'fault.' callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that in fact the leak test did fall within the time limits specified for the test, but that it concerned him since the aircraft was taken OTS at the next station. However, he now believes that he has made a bigger problem out of this than should have been. He further stated that he realizes that there are always some judgement calls to be made and that everything is not readily apparent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MECH FOR AN FK100 SIGNED OFF THE ACFT LOG FOR A DEFERRED MEL ITEM AFTER PERFORMING A PRESSURIZATION HULL LEAK TEST AND HIS SUPVR DIRECTING HIM TO SIGN OFF AND DISPATCH THE ACFT FOR SVC.

Narrative: ACFT ARRIVED FOR REMAIN OVERNIGHT MAINT INCLUDING TECH SVC ITEM TO 'PRESSURIZE AND DO AN LK DOWN CK.' THIS ACFT HAD A LONG HISTORY IN THIS AREA GOING BACK AT LEAST 3 WKS PRIOR. ACFT DID NOT MEET LEAK DOWN LIMITS AND WAS DISPATCHED UNDER SAME MEL THAT IT ARRIVED WITH. MAINT TECH SVC WAS ADVISED OF TEST FINDINGS AND FAILURE. LCL MGMNT WAS ALSO INFORMED. I WAS ADVISED TO MAKE MAINT LOG ENTRY RPTING TEST FINDINGS WHICH WAS DONE WITH MAINT ITEM LEFT 'OPEN' WITH VARIOUS SEALS PROGRAMMED FOR REPLACEMENT. ACFT DISPATCHED UNDER SAME MEL IT ARRIVED WITH AND BEEN IN SVC WITH. ACFT WAS TAKEN OTS LATER TO BE REPAIRED. A QUESTION AROSE AT THAT TIME -- 'SHOULD ACFT HAVE STAYED IN SVC?' FOKKER MAINT MANUAL UNCLR ON THAT POINT AND SOME MEL'S UNCLR AS TO DISPATCH WHEN CERTAIN SYS 'FAULT.' CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT IN FACT THE LEAK TEST DID FALL WITHIN THE TIME LIMITS SPECIFIED FOR THE TEST, BUT THAT IT CONCERNED HIM SINCE THE ACFT WAS TAKEN OTS AT THE NEXT STATION. HOWEVER, HE NOW BELIEVES THAT HE HAS MADE A BIGGER PROB OUT OF THIS THAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE REALIZES THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS SOME JUDGEMENT CALLS TO BE MADE AND THAT EVERYTHING IS NOT READILY APPARENT.

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.

Mechanic for an FK100 signed off the aircraft log for a deferred MEL item after performing a pressurization hull leak test and his supervisor directing him to sign off and dispatch the aircraft for service.