An MD11 had the main fuel tank sumps drained using incorrect tooling and procedures.

Attributes
ACN	444701
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
Experience	maintenance technician : 8
ASRS Report	444701
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : lead technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Experience	maintenance lead technician : 2 maintenance technician : 9
ASRS Report	444234
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : tooling performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

After draining the fuel tank sumps from an overnight MD11 aircraft, it came to my attention that the method I had used may not have been satisfactory to drain all accumulated water from the fuel tanks. I was using a long handled screwdriver and plastic bucket to catch drained fuel. The waste fuel was then deposited in an approved satellite waste collection drum. The next day, I was informed that the proper tool for this task was in our local tool room. This event came about as a local FAA inspector had questioned other persons as to whether the sumps had in fact been drained. Furthermore, this aircraft was refueled after I had indeed drained these sumps. Since this occurrence I have used the proper tool for this task when required. There was no damage to aircraft or system, nor harm to persons as a result of this action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD11 HAD THE MAIN FUEL TANK SUMPS DRAINED USING INCORRECT TOOLING AND PROCS.

Narrative: AFTER DRAINING THE FUEL TANK SUMPS FROM AN OVERNIGHT MD11 ACFT, IT CAME TO MY ATTN THAT THE METHOD I HAD USED MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORY TO DRAIN ALL ACCUMULATED WATER FROM THE FUEL TANKS. I WAS USING A LONG HANDLED SCREWDRIVER AND PLASTIC BUCKET TO CATCH DRAINED FUEL. THE WASTE FUEL WAS THEN DEPOSITED IN AN APPROVED SATELLITE WASTE COLLECTION DRUM. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROPER TOOL FOR THIS TASK WAS IN OUR LCL TOOL ROOM. THIS EVENT CAME ABOUT AS A LCL FAA INSPECTOR HAD QUESTIONED OTHER PERSONS AS TO WHETHER THE SUMPS HAD IN FACT BEEN DRAINED. FURTHERMORE, THIS ACFT WAS REFUELED AFTER I HAD INDEED DRAINED THESE SUMPS. SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE I HAVE USED THE PROPER TOOL FOR THIS TASK WHEN REQUIRED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ACFT OR SYS, NOR HARM TO PERSONS AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION.

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.