An inspector reports B-777 aircraft being dispatched in non compliance with required airworthiness d...

Attributes
ACN	589164
Time
Date	200307
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	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
ASRS Report	589164
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : person 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other Other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : training performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : unqualified personnel
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Company Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company
Situations
Publication	GENERAL PROCEDURES MANUAL

Narrative:

We were given a memo from our quality assurance station manager to do the FAA airworthiness directive on B777 leading edge slat inspection. We did not go to the B777 general familiarization course. Our gpm (general procedures manual) states you must go to a general familiarization course to be qualified for that fleet. Gpm page 5 of 26 B777 quotes: gpm xyz is the training policy as to gpm xxz is for qualifications for all mechanics. I feel that we are put in an unsafe operating doctrine and are in violation of FARS. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated 1 inspector was sent to general familiarization training and no other inspectors were given this training. The reporter said he was assigned an airworthiness directive to inspect the leading edge devices on a B-777 for cracks. The reporter stated it was pointed out to the supervisor and manager of quality control of the qualification requirements in the company general procedures manual of familiarization training. The reporter said not having the training made him unqualified and untrained on the B-777. The reporter stated the manager came out with a memo that justified performing the airworthiness directive by unqualified inspectors. The reporter said the inspections were performed under management pressure per the airworthiness directive, but the perception among the inspectors is it's not legal. The reporter said the situation has been reported on the FAA hotline.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSPECTOR RPTS B-777 ACFT BEING DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIRED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE INSPECTIONS BEING DONE BY UNQUALIFIED AND UNTRAINED INSPECTORS.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A MEMO FROM OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE STATION MGR TO DO THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ON B777 LEADING EDGE SLAT INSPECTION. WE DID NOT GO TO THE B777 GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE. OUR GPM (GENERAL PROCS MANUAL) STATES YOU MUST GO TO A GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THAT FLEET. GPM PAGE 5 OF 26 B777 QUOTES: GPM XYZ IS THE TRAINING POLICY AS TO GPM XXZ IS FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL MECHS. I FEEL THAT WE ARE PUT IN AN UNSAFE OPERATING DOCTRINE AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF FARS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED 1 INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING AND NO OTHER INSPECTORS WERE GIVEN THIS TRAINING. THE RPTR SAID HE WAS ASSIGNED AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO INSPECT THE LEADING EDGE DEVICES ON A B-777 FOR CRACKS. THE RPTR STATED IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE SUPVR AND MGR OF QUALITY CTL OF THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE COMPANY GENERAL PROCS MANUAL OF FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING. THE RPTR SAID NOT HAVING THE TRAINING MADE HIM UNQUALIFIED AND UNTRAINED ON THE B-777. THE RPTR STATED THE MGR CAME OUT WITH A MEMO THAT JUSTIFIED PERFORMING THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE BY UNQUALIFIED INSPECTORS. THE RPTR SAID THE INSPECTIONS WERE PERFORMED UNDER MGMNT PRESSURE PER THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, BUT THE PERCEPTION AMONG THE INSPECTORS IS IT'S NOT LEGAL. THE RPTR SAID THE SIT HAS BEEN RPTED ON THE FAA HOTLINE.

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.

An inspector reports B-777 aircraft being dispatched in non compliance with required airworthiness directive inspections being done by unqualified and untrained inspectors.