<< >> NASA ASRS Report 515390, June 2001

A B767-300 incurred in-flight loss of the left engine fan cowling after being dispatched on the first flight out of an 'a' service check.

Attributes
ACN	515390
Time
Date	200106
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Experience	maintenance technician : 15
ASRS Report	515390
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	515391
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : person 1
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : investigated other other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was assigned an 'a' check on aircraft xxy. I accomplished the engine inspection portion with mechanic. Upon completion of inspection, we closed both cowlings at latch. We requested the #1 cowling to fit an oil service door. Was unable to fit service door due to job procedure time. Then closed and latched cowlings again with mechanic. Later that evening, was informed by supervisor that cowlings from #1 engine had fallen off. I am sure of latching cowling and that it was verified latched by flight crew prior to departure. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated he believes the cowling was latched properly. The reporter said the possibility of the latches being 'false locked' exists. The reporter stated, 'with 15 yrs of experience it's difficult to believe I could dispatch any airplane with an unlocked cowling'.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 INCURRED INFLT LOSS OF THE L ENG FAN COWLING AFTER BEING DISPATCHED ON THE FIRST FLT OUT OF AN 'A' SVC CHK.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED AN 'A' CHK ON ACFT XXY. I ACCOMPLISHED THE ENG INSPECTION PORTION WITH MECH. UPON COMPLETION OF INSPECTION, WE CLOSED BOTH COWLINGS AT LATCH. WE REQUESTED THE #1 COWLING TO FIT AN OIL SVC DOOR. WAS UNABLE TO FIT SVC DOOR DUE TO JOB PROC TIME. THEN CLOSED AND LATCHED COWLINGS AGAIN WITH MECH. LATER THAT EVENING, WAS INFORMED BY SUPVR THAT COWLINGS FROM #1 ENG HAD FALLEN OFF. I AM SURE OF LATCHING COWLING AND THAT IT WAS VERIFIED LATCHED BY FLC PRIOR TO DEP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE BELIEVES THE COWLING WAS LATCHED PROPERLY. THE RPTR SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF THE LATCHES BEING 'FALSE LOCKED' EXISTS. THE RPTR STATED, 'WITH 15 YRS OF EXPERIENCE IT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE I COULD DISPATCH ANY AIRPLANE WITH AN UNLOCKED COWLING'.

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.