Narrative:

On dec/xa/00, I was assigned aircraft xyz. After the check was complete, I started on the write-ups. Job card requires the replacement of both cabin pressure controllers. After the controllers were installed, I was directed (by the paperwork) to test and verify line replaceable unit part numbers on the mcdu's. Both part numbers verified. #2 system, however, would not pass built-in test equipment. I accomplished the usual checks of a failed test (ie, reset circuit breakers and repwred the system). After a couple attempts, both system passed built-in test equipment. The printout of built-in test equipment results was stapled to the work cards. At this point, the aircraft was released for service, and I went home. The next day, I was informed that air carrier xyz flew unpressurized to XXX after the pilot could not pressurize the aircraft. Upon arrival to XXX, it was reported that maintenance found shipping plugs on both cabin pressure controllers. After many (to me) days of questioning, I learned that the plugs in question were most likely the ambient vent covers. I followed the paperwork to the letter, yet it appears I could have left the vent covers in place. A mcdu built-in test equipment will not show this condition and appears not to be affected by the covers being in place. This problem might not have occurred if the vent covers have streamers or flags on them, and the job card assures that vent covers be removed before installation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS A319 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH CABIN PRESSURE CONTROLLERS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY WITH THE AMBIENT VENTS PLUGGED.

Narrative: ON DEC/XA/00, I WAS ASSIGNED ACFT XYZ. AFTER THE CHK WAS COMPLETE, I STARTED ON THE WRITE-UPS. JOB CARD REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH CABIN PRESSURE CONTROLLERS. AFTER THE CONTROLLERS WERE INSTALLED, I WAS DIRECTED (BY THE PAPERWORK) TO TEST AND VERIFY LINE REPLACEABLE UNIT PART NUMBERS ON THE MCDU'S. BOTH PART NUMBERS VERIFIED. #2 SYS, HOWEVER, WOULD NOT PASS BUILT-IN TEST EQUIP. I ACCOMPLISHED THE USUAL CHKS OF A FAILED TEST (IE, RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND REPWRED THE SYS). AFTER A COUPLE ATTEMPTS, BOTH SYS PASSED BUILT-IN TEST EQUIP. THE PRINTOUT OF BUILT-IN TEST EQUIP RESULTS WAS STAPLED TO THE WORK CARDS. AT THIS POINT, THE ACFT WAS RELEASED FOR SVC, AND I WENT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT ACR XYZ FLEW UNPRESSURIZED TO XXX AFTER THE PLT COULD NOT PRESSURIZE THE ACFT. UPON ARR TO XXX, IT WAS RPTED THAT MAINT FOUND SHIPPING PLUGS ON BOTH CABIN PRESSURE CONTROLLERS. AFTER MANY (TO ME) DAYS OF QUESTIONING, I LEARNED THAT THE PLUGS IN QUESTION WERE MOST LIKELY THE AMBIENT VENT COVERS. I FOLLOWED THE PAPERWORK TO THE LETTER, YET IT APPEARS I COULD HAVE LEFT THE VENT COVERS IN PLACE. A MCDU BUILT-IN TEST EQUIP WILL NOT SHOW THIS CONDITION AND APPEARS NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE COVERS BEING IN PLACE. THIS PROB MIGHT NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF THE VENT COVERS HAVE STREAMERS OR FLAGS ON THEM, AND THE JOB CARD ASSURES THAT VENT COVERS BE REMOVED BEFORE INSTALLATION.

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.