A B737-500 was dispatched after a left aileron was replaced. 3 days later, an aileron seal and retai...

Attributes
ACN	563140
Time
Date	200210
Day	Sun
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
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Experience	maintenance technician : 15
ASRS Report	563140
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : inspector
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

On sep/fri/02, I was assigned to install the l-hand aileron on aircraft X. I completed all steps up to step #12 on job card xabcd. This included the connection of the balance panel to the aileron by connecting the hinge pins. This step has a clearance to close and a sell item when completed. The aircraft was released to service on oct/fri/02. On oct/sun/02 at XA00, it was brought to my attention that 2 hinge seals and retainers were found on the dock. One of the seals and retainer were marked r-hand aileron aircraft X. The other was not marked. I was asked if I remembered the hinge seal and retainer being installed by my team leader. I told them that everything was in place to the best of my knowledge. But these seals and retainer are never removed under normal removal and installation for an aileron. An inspector and mechanic were called in and asked if, during the clearance to close, if panel install cards were completed. They were asked if they noticed anything missing. They did not. At that time, it was decided to ground the aircraft until an inspection could be completed to see if the retainer and seal were installed. To the best of my knowledge, everything was installed correctly on sep/fri/02. However, there were rig and cable changes needing to be completed. I did not, however, return to do any more work on the l-hand aileron. If the retainer and seal were removed any time after that, it was without my personal knowledge.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-500 WAS DISPATCHED AFTER A L AILERON WAS REPLACED. 3 DAYS LATER, AN AILERON SEAL AND RETAINER MARKED WITH THE ACFT NUMBER WERE FOUND ON THE DOCK.

Narrative: ON SEP/FRI/02, I WAS ASSIGNED TO INSTALL THE L-HAND AILERON ON ACFT X. I COMPLETED ALL STEPS UP TO STEP #12 ON JOB CARD XABCD. THIS INCLUDED THE CONNECTION OF THE BAL PANEL TO THE AILERON BY CONNECTING THE HINGE PINS. THIS STEP HAS A CLRNC TO CLOSE AND A SELL ITEM WHEN COMPLETED. THE ACFT WAS RELEASED TO SVC ON OCT/FRI/02. ON OCT/SUN/02 AT XA00, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN THAT 2 HINGE SEALS AND RETAINERS WERE FOUND ON THE DOCK. ONE OF THE SEALS AND RETAINER WERE MARKED R-HAND AILERON ACFT X. THE OTHER WAS NOT MARKED. I WAS ASKED IF I REMEMBERED THE HINGE SEAL AND RETAINER BEING INSTALLED BY MY TEAM LEADER. I TOLD THEM THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. BUT THESE SEALS AND RETAINER ARE NEVER REMOVED UNDER NORMAL REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION FOR AN AILERON. AN INSPECTOR AND MECH WERE CALLED IN AND ASKED IF, DURING THE CLRNC TO CLOSE, IF PANEL INSTALL CARDS WERE COMPLETED. THEY WERE ASKED IF THEY NOTICED ANYTHING MISSING. THEY DID NOT. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DECIDED TO GND THE ACFT UNTIL AN INSPECTION COULD BE COMPLETED TO SEE IF THE RETAINER AND SEAL WERE INSTALLED. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, EVERYTHING WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY ON SEP/FRI/02. HOWEVER, THERE WERE RIG AND CABLE CHANGES NEEDING TO BE COMPLETED. I DID NOT, HOWEVER, RETURN TO DO ANY MORE WORK ON THE L-HAND AILERON. IF THE RETAINER AND SEAL WERE REMOVED ANY TIME AFTER THAT, IT WAS WITHOUT MY PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE.

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.

A B737-500 was dispatched after a left aileron was replaced. 3 days later, an aileron seal and retainer marked with the aircraft number were found on the dock.