B727 mechanic, when deactivating the center fuel tank xfeed valve per the MEL, safetied it closed in...

Attributes
ACN	571339
Time
Date	200301
Day	Thu
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
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
ASRS Report	571339
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel quantity indication other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

On jan/thu/03, I received a call at or about XA10 from ZZZ1 maintenance control reporting that on aircraft X, the crew had '#2 fuel valve in transit light fails to illuminate when knob is cycled.' I immediately reported to the aircraft and received a brief from the flight engineer. I then contacted maintenance controller and talked with ZZZ1 maintenance control, and he directed me to check the operation of the valve. If it failed, comply with MEL. I cycled the switches, and 'no joy.' I reviewed the maintenance tape and complied with the maintenance manual and the MEL. I verified the valve was in the open position and safety wired it to the open position. I then returned to the cockpit and finished the paperwork and placed the valve on MEL. The aircraft departed and approximately 1/2 hour later, ZZZ1 maintenance control called me and informed me that the aircraft was diverting to phoenix, due to the fact they could not get fuel out of the #2 tank. To my understanding, the aircraft landed at phoenix without incident. ZZZ1 maintenance control called again at around XC00 and informed me that it was discovered that the valve was safety wired in the closed position. I followed the pubs, and I verified the position of the valve.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 MECH, WHEN DEACTIVATING THE CTR FUEL TANK XFEED VALVE PER THE MEL, SAFETIED IT CLOSED INSTEAD OF OPEN.

Narrative: ON JAN/THU/03, I RECEIVED A CALL AT OR ABOUT XA10 FROM ZZZ1 MAINT CTL RPTING THAT ON ACFT X, THE CREW HAD '#2 FUEL VALVE IN TRANSIT LIGHT FAILS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN KNOB IS CYCLED.' I IMMEDIATELY RPTED TO THE ACFT AND RECEIVED A BRIEF FROM THE FE. I THEN CONTACTED MAINT CTLR AND TALKED WITH ZZZ1 MAINT CTL, AND HE DIRECTED ME TO CHK THE OP OF THE VALVE. IF IT FAILED, COMPLY WITH MEL. I CYCLED THE SWITCHES, AND 'NO JOY.' I REVIEWED THE MAINT TAPE AND COMPLIED WITH THE MAINT MANUAL AND THE MEL. I VERIFIED THE VALVE WAS IN THE OPEN POS AND SAFETY WIRED IT TO THE OPEN POS. I THEN RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT AND FINISHED THE PAPERWORK AND PLACED THE VALVE ON MEL. THE ACFT DEPARTED AND APPROX 1/2 HR LATER, ZZZ1 MAINT CTL CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ACFT WAS DIVERTING TO PHOENIX, DUE TO THE FACT THEY COULD NOT GET FUEL OUT OF THE #2 TANK. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE ACFT LANDED AT PHOENIX WITHOUT INCIDENT. ZZZ1 MAINT CTL CALLED AGAIN AT AROUND XC00 AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE WAS SAFETY WIRED IN THE CLOSED POS. I FOLLOWED THE PUBS, AND I VERIFIED THE POS OF THE VALVE.

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.

B727 mechanic, when deactivating the center fuel tank xfeed valve per the MEL, safetied it closed instead of open.