A B757-200 was found to have rags remaining in the left wing fuel tank after a tank repair.

Attributes
ACN	464071
Time
Date	200002
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pbi.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : inspector
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
ASRS Report	464071
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
Experience	maintenance technician : 15
ASRS Report	464050
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : weather performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : installation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Company Weather
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Rags were discovered in the left wing lower fuel tank. I gave an ok to close the forward wing dry bay panel. After sealing and pressure check of the lower inbound corner of the dry bay access panel, to indicate the sealing, pressure check, and that the dry bay panel being worked on at the time was secure. Later on the (lower wing access panel) aft of the dry bay panel, was closed without an ok to close the lower wing 'access panel.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 WAS FOUND TO HAVE RAGS REMAINING IN THE L WING FUEL TANK AFTER A TANK REPAIR.

Narrative: RAGS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE L WING LOWER FUEL TANK. I GAVE AN OK TO CLOSE THE FORWARD WING DRY BAY PANEL. AFTER SEALING AND PRESSURE CHK OF THE LOWER INBOUND CORNER OF THE DRY BAY ACCESS PANEL, TO INDICATE THE SEALING, PRESSURE CHK, AND THAT THE DRY BAY PANEL BEING WORKED ON AT THE TIME WAS SECURE. LATER ON THE (LOWER WING ACCESS PANEL) AFT OF THE DRY BAY PANEL, WAS CLOSED WITHOUT AN OK TO CLOSE THE LOWER WING 'ACCESS PANEL.'

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.