Narrative:

The task involved completing a maintenance task which required retrieval of serial numbers from 7 fire bottle squibs in different locations on the A320 airbus. 1 bottle in the APU area, 2 in the forward cargo pit and 2 in each of the engine pylons. 4 9-INCH circular panels must be removed from the engine pylons, 2 panels per pylon. After acquiring the numbers from the pylon fire bottles, squibs, I reinstalled the 4 inspection panels finger tight with the 4 screws provided, then I went back to finish securing the panels with an electric drill motor. Apparently I did not tighten one of the panels and it separated from the aircraft during flight. I believe I was distraction because of the amount of magnification equipment needed for the job, had to be disassembled and stowed in its special carrying case.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 TECHNICIAN RPTS A 4 INCH PYLON INSPECTION PANEL DEPARTED THE ACFT DUE TO THE FASTENERS NOT BEING TIGHTENED.

Narrative: THE TASK INVOLVED COMPLETING A MAINT TASK WHICH REQUIRED RETRIEVAL OF SERIAL NUMBERS FROM 7 FIRE BOTTLE SQUIBS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE A320 AIRBUS. 1 BOTTLE IN THE APU AREA, 2 IN THE FORWARD CARGO PIT AND 2 IN EACH OF THE ENG PYLONS. 4 9-INCH CIRCULAR PANELS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE ENG PYLONS, 2 PANELS PER PYLON. AFTER ACQUIRING THE NUMBERS FROM THE PYLON FIRE BOTTLES, SQUIBS, I REINSTALLED THE 4 INSPECTION PANELS FINGER TIGHT WITH THE 4 SCREWS PROVIDED, THEN I WENT BACK TO FINISH SECURING THE PANELS WITH AN ELECTRIC DRILL MOTOR. APPARENTLY I DID NOT TIGHTEN ONE OF THE PANELS AND IT SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT DURING FLT. I BELIEVE I WAS DISTR BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MAGNIFICATION EQUIP NEEDED FOR THE JOB, HAD TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND STOWED IN ITS SPECIAL CARRYING CASE.

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.