Narrative:

Aircraft parked out of service in remote ramp due to l-hand hydraulic system fluid loss. Previous shift incorrectly idented leak area. During leak check of this area; the l-hand elevator came in contact with the boom of the lift truck. Leak was located higher up in horizontal stabilizer later in the evening. Lights were very dim in ramp. The clearance between lift truck boom and elevators was judged to be 1 ft prior to hydraulic power being turned on. This was not sufficient; however. As power was applied to the elevators; contact was made by trailing edge of the l-hand elevator. Chain of events in my opinion were that we were told which panel to remove. I was not given the opportunity to do my own troubleshooting. In daylight the hydraulic stains could be seen higher up on the stabilizer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300ER INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE L ELEVATOR WHEN STRUCK BY A LIFT TRUCK OPERATED BY A TECHNICIAN TROUBLESHOOTING A HYD LEAK.

Narrative: ACFT PARKED OUT OF SVC IN REMOTE RAMP DUE TO L-HAND HYD SYS FLUID LOSS. PREVIOUS SHIFT INCORRECTLY IDENTED LEAK AREA. DURING LEAK CHK OF THIS AREA; THE L-HAND ELEVATOR CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE BOOM OF THE LIFT TRUCK. LEAK WAS LOCATED HIGHER UP IN HORIZ STABILIZER LATER IN THE EVENING. LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM IN RAMP. THE CLRNC BTWN LIFT TRUCK BOOM AND ELEVATORS WAS JUDGED TO BE 1 FT PRIOR TO HYD PWR BEING TURNED ON. THIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT; HOWEVER. AS PWR WAS APPLIED TO THE ELEVATORS; CONTACT WAS MADE BY TRAILING EDGE OF THE L-HAND ELEVATOR. CHAIN OF EVENTS IN MY OPINION WERE THAT WE WERE TOLD WHICH PANEL TO REMOVE. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MY OWN TROUBLESHOOTING. IN DAYLIGHT THE HYD STAINS COULD BE SEEN HIGHER UP ON THE STABILIZER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.