Narrative:

Aircraft XXX was undergoing inspection under c-chk phase ii. I was assigned inspection card xyz which inspects a JT8D powerplant on this aircraft. The work controller hold portion of this job card lists the expected time for completion of this inspection as 3 hours. The time is broken down as follows: 1) inspect nose cowl, .6 hours, 2) inspect engine accessory section, .6 hours, 3) inspect fire detection units, .6 hours, 4) inspect thrust reverser, .6 hours, 5) inspect turbine blades, .6 hours. Card xyz contains 37 specific items that the inspector is required to inspect, in addition to condition and security of the powerplant and documenting discrepancy items. This is included in the allotted 3 hours. The company is using this time standard to judge inspector efficiency, and it is reflected on performance evaluations. This has an intimidating effect on inspection personnel and may contribute to a lax inspection of the powerplant. This is not in the best interest of flight safety. It is my position that a more reasonable time period be established to conduct this inspection. The 37 specific items noted on the job card would each require 4.8 mins if the 3 hours were divided equally among them. In addition, it is my experience that documenting each discrepancy take approximately 2.5 mins on the company specified forms. This would add 1 additional hour to the inspection time requirement. It has also been my experience that a typical inspection may produce anywhere from 20-40 discrepancies. It is my opinion that a minimum of 6 hours should be allotted for this inspection.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9-32 UNDERGOING A HVY MAINT VISIT HAS ENG JOB CARDS ISSUED WHICH DO NOT ALLOW ADEQUATE OR REASONABLE TIME TO ACCOMPLISH.

Narrative: ACFT XXX WAS UNDERGOING INSPECTION UNDER C-CHK PHASE II. I WAS ASSIGNED INSPECTION CARD XYZ WHICH INSPECTS A JT8D POWERPLANT ON THIS ACFT. THE WORK CTLR HOLD PORTION OF THIS JOB CARD LISTS THE EXPECTED TIME FOR COMPLETION OF THIS INSPECTION AS 3 HRS. THE TIME IS BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS: 1) INSPECT NOSE COWL, .6 HRS, 2) INSPECT ENG ACCESSORY SECTION, .6 HRS, 3) INSPECT FIRE DETECTION UNITS, .6 HRS, 4) INSPECT THRUST REVERSER, .6 HRS, 5) INSPECT TURBINE BLADES, .6 HRS. CARD XYZ CONTAINS 37 SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT THE INSPECTOR IS REQUIRED TO INSPECT, IN ADDITION TO CONDITION AND SECURITY OF THE POWERPLANT AND DOCUMENTING DISCREPANCY ITEMS. THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE ALLOTTED 3 HRS. THE COMPANY IS USING THIS TIME STANDARD TO JUDGE INSPECTOR EFFICIENCY, AND IT IS REFLECTED ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. THIS HAS AN INTIMIDATING EFFECT ON INSPECTION PERSONNEL AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A LAX INSPECTION OF THE POWERPLANT. THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF FLT SAFETY. IT IS MY POS THAT A MORE REASONABLE TIME PERIOD BE ESTABLISHED TO CONDUCT THIS INSPECTION. THE 37 SPECIFIC ITEMS NOTED ON THE JOB CARD WOULD EACH REQUIRE 4.8 MINS IF THE 3 HRS WERE DIVIDED EQUALLY AMONG THEM. IN ADDITION, IT IS MY EXPERIENCE THAT DOCUMENTING EACH DISCREPANCY TAKE APPROX 2.5 MINS ON THE COMPANY SPECIFIED FORMS. THIS WOULD ADD 1 ADDITIONAL HR TO THE INSPECTION TIME REQUIREMENT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT A TYPICAL INSPECTION MAY PRODUCE ANYWHERE FROM 20-40 DISCREPANCIES. IT IS MY OPINION THAT A MINIMUM OF 6 HRS SHOULD BE ALLOTTED FOR THIS INSPECTION.

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.