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A DC9-30 elevator tab bolt washer found interfering with tab movement is removed and correct length bolt installed. Inspection questioned logbook signoff.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 530096 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200111 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : elp.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-9 30 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : maintenance |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | maintenance : technician |
| Qualification | technician : powerplant technician : airframe |
| Experience | maintenance technician : 20 |
| ASRS Report | 530096 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | maintenance : inspector |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other other : person 2 |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | performance deficiency : inspection |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
On oct/wed/01, air carrier DC9 ship #XXXX while on routine flight to ZZZ. Arrived at gate with inbound logbook write-up stating elevator had heavy feeling in all phases of flight. Investigation revealed improper installation of a thick washer under the head of the left elevator control tab inbound bearing. To correct the problem I removed control tab and replaced bolt with the same type bolt 1 size shorter, omitting the washer from under the head to insure proper clearance. Aircraft was returned to service with no repeat write-ups. I was questioned by air carrier quality assurance about the corrective action and sign-off. I stated in the sign-off that I 'installed correct bolt' -- correct statement should have been 'installed correct length bolt.' when asked if I installed a thin washer under the bolt head I said no that I wanted to insure proper clearance between bolt head and control tab, referencing maintenance manual chapter 20 covering washer installation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A DC9-30 ELEVATOR TAB BOLT WASHER FOUND INTERFERING WITH TAB MOVEMENT IS REMOVED AND CORRECT LENGTH BOLT INSTALLED. INSPECTION QUESTIONED LOGBOOK SIGNOFF.
Narrative: ON OCT/WED/01, ACR DC9 SHIP #XXXX WHILE ON ROUTINE FLT TO ZZZ. ARRIVED AT GATE WITH INBOUND LOGBOOK WRITE-UP STATING ELEVATOR HAD HVY FEELING IN ALL PHASES OF FLT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A THICK WASHER UNDER THE HEAD OF THE L ELEVATOR CTL TAB INBOUND BEARING. TO CORRECT THE PROB I REMOVED CTL TAB AND REPLACED BOLT WITH THE SAME TYPE BOLT 1 SIZE SHORTER, OMITTING THE WASHER FROM UNDER THE HEAD TO INSURE PROPER CLRNC. ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SVC WITH NO REPEAT WRITE-UPS. I WAS QUESTIONED BY ACR QUALITY ASSURANCE ABOUT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION AND SIGN-OFF. I STATED IN THE SIGN-OFF THAT I 'INSTALLED CORRECT BOLT' -- CORRECT STATEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 'INSTALLED CORRECT LENGTH BOLT.' WHEN ASKED IF I INSTALLED A THIN WASHER UNDER THE BOLT HEAD I SAID NO THAT I WANTED TO INSURE PROPER CLRNC BTWN BOLT HEAD AND CTL TAB, REFING MAINT MANUAL CHAPTER 20 COVERING WASHER 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.