Narrative:

During an 'a' check inspection the emergency equipment was inspected. Myself and another mechanic, who was beginning his next shift in conjunction with the previous shift, were assigned this duty ('a' check). He had started the 'a' check by himself during his previous shift. I was then assigned at XA00 to assist him. In addition to other items, I began to inspect the emergency equipment in the cabin. Prior to completing this section of the 'a' check, the other mechanic came upstairs to the cabin and told me he had already done this section. I then quit working where I was and told him that he could go ahead and sign it off (stamp it with his stamp). In the process of signing off the 'a' check, I may have stamped this entire section myself. (Our work areas crossed over, rather than individual sections -- a lot of items are grouped together.) the reason I say 'may' is because I cannot recall whether I signed it off or the other mechanic did. I do not have access to the paperwork and will not know for some time who actually signed it off. An FAA inspector found that an indicator seal was installed on a soft pouch (nomex) pbe. There was a statement on the 'a' check to remove this if it is installed. The mechanic working on this and myself didn't notice the 'note' in the paperwork. The FAA may be pursuing this further -- we do not know. A problem with our 'a' checks and other paperwork is that when working with other mechanics, provision is made for only 1 signoff. Entire sections are responsibility of only 1 individual.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-200 WAS RELEASED FOR SVC FROM 'A' MAINT CHK WITH THE PORTABLE BREATHING HOOD SEAL INDICATOR INTACT WHEN CHK JOB CARD REQUIRES SEAL INDICATOR REMOVAL.

Narrative: DURING AN 'A' CHK INSPECTION THE EMER EQUIP WAS INSPECTED. MYSELF AND ANOTHER MECH, WHO WAS BEGINNING HIS NEXT SHIFT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PREVIOUS SHIFT, WERE ASSIGNED THIS DUTY ('A' CHK). HE HAD STARTED THE 'A' CHK BY HIMSELF DURING HIS PREVIOUS SHIFT. I WAS THEN ASSIGNED AT XA00 TO ASSIST HIM. IN ADDITION TO OTHER ITEMS, I BEGAN TO INSPECT THE EMER EQUIP IN THE CABIN. PRIOR TO COMPLETING THIS SECTION OF THE 'A' CHK, THE OTHER MECH CAME UPSTAIRS TO THE CABIN AND TOLD ME HE HAD ALREADY DONE THIS SECTION. I THEN QUIT WORKING WHERE I WAS AND TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD GO AHEAD AND SIGN IT OFF (STAMP IT WITH HIS STAMP). IN THE PROCESS OF SIGNING OFF THE 'A' CHK, I MAY HAVE STAMPED THIS ENTIRE SECTION MYSELF. (OUR WORK AREAS CROSSED OVER, RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS -- A LOT OF ITEMS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER.) THE REASON I SAY 'MAY' IS BECAUSE I CANNOT RECALL WHETHER I SIGNED IT OFF OR THE OTHER MECH DID. I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PAPERWORK AND WILL NOT KNOW FOR SOME TIME WHO ACTUALLY SIGNED IT OFF. AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THAT AN INDICATOR SEAL WAS INSTALLED ON A SOFT POUCH (NOMEX) PBE. THERE WAS A STATEMENT ON THE 'A' CHK TO REMOVE THIS IF IT IS INSTALLED. THE MECH WORKING ON THIS AND MYSELF DIDN'T NOTICE THE 'NOTE' IN THE PAPERWORK. THE FAA MAY BE PURSUING THIS FURTHER -- WE DO NOT KNOW. A PROB WITH OUR 'A' CHKS AND OTHER PAPERWORK IS THAT WHEN WORKING WITH OTHER MECHS, PROVISION IS MADE FOR ONLY 1 SIGNOFF. ENTIRE SECTIONS ARE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONLY 1 INDIVIDUAL.

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.