A C208B was operated after phase check inspection with improper check signoff.

Attributes
ACN	383568
Time
Date	199710
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	383568
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

There is some question as to whether the cessna phase card inspection is considered an authority/authorized aircraft inspector procedure. I was briefed previously by the past lead mechanic that it was not, and that an inspection authority/authorized was not needed to sign the aircraft off for return to service. I have been signing off the aircraft for approximately 1 yr, and the FAA is discussing the possibility that it is an authority/authorized aircraft inspector procedure and that an inspection authority/authorized license is needed to return the aircraft to service. If this is the case, I would be in violation of far 135.419. I was unaware that the cessna phase card inspection program is possibly an authority/authorized aircraft inspector procedure. I assumed that the previous lead mechanic was correct, and I should have researched this issue more thoroughly. The aircraft itself has been and is in an airworthy condition.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C208B WAS OPERATED AFTER PHASE CHK INSPECTION WITH IMPROPER CHK SIGNOFF.

Narrative: THERE IS SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE CESSNA PHASE CARD INSPECTION IS CONSIDERED AN AUTH ACFT INSPECTOR PROC. I WAS BRIEFED PREVIOUSLY BY THE PAST LEAD MECH THAT IT WAS NOT, AND THAT AN INSPECTION AUTH WAS NOT NEEDED TO SIGN THE ACFT OFF FOR RETURN TO SVC. I HAVE BEEN SIGNING OFF THE ACFT FOR APPROX 1 YR, AND THE FAA IS DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT IS AN AUTH ACFT INSPECTOR PROC AND THAT AN INSPECTION AUTH LICENSE IS NEEDED TO RETURN THE ACFT TO SVC. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF FAR 135.419. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE CESSNA PHASE CARD INSPECTION PROGRAM IS POSSIBLY AN AUTH ACFT INSPECTOR PROC. I ASSUMED THAT THE PREVIOUS LEAD MECH WAS CORRECT, AND I SHOULD HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE MORE THOROUGHLY. THE ACFT ITSELF HAS BEEN AND IS IN AN AIRWORTHY CONDITION.

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.