<< >> NASA ASRS Report 657976, April 2005

During a B777 ETOPS check; an FAA safety inspector questions the method of checking pitot tube; static port and angle of attack sensors for insect obstruction.

Attributes
ACN	657976
Time
Date	200504
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
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
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	657976
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other Other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : work cards performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication FAA
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

Upon completing ETOPS 1 check inspection on this aircraft; an FAA inspector questioned item #8; pitot tube; static port; and angle of attack sensor inspection procedure. He asked how I determined the tube had no insect obstruction. I explained that I checked it from the ground. He explained that his interpretation is that you must put a stand up and visually check up close. I explained we were trained that all inspections are done from the ground. We also checked 'a' check and 'B' check paperwork inspection of this pitot tube and it states it is done from the ground. Item #6 on the ETOPS 1 check states general walkaround accomplished from ground level. I feel the ETOPS 1 paperwork is contradictory with item #6 and item #8 and 'a' and 'B' checks. Reference work card X; 'B' check and 'a' check card 'a' states accomplished from ground. I am filing this report to have this issue clarified. Contradictory information causing entrapment of mechanic -- no specific procedure.

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• A B777 during an ETOPS check an FAA safety inspector questio...

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A B777 ETOPS CHK; AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR QUESTIONS THE METHOD OF CHKING PITOT TUBE; STATIC PORT AND ANGLE OF ATTACK SENSORS FOR INSECT OBSTRUCTION.

Narrative: UPON COMPLETING ETOPS 1 CHK INSPECTION ON THIS ACFT; AN FAA INSPECTOR QUESTIONED ITEM #8; PITOT TUBE; STATIC PORT; AND ANGLE OF ATTACK SENSOR INSPECTION PROC. HE ASKED HOW I DETERMINED THE TUBE HAD NO INSECT OBSTRUCTION. I EXPLAINED THAT I CHKED IT FROM THE GND. HE EXPLAINED THAT HIS INTERP IS THAT YOU MUST PUT A STAND UP AND VISUALLY CHK UP CLOSE. I EXPLAINED WE WERE TRAINED THAT ALL INSPECTIONS ARE DONE FROM THE GND. WE ALSO CHKED 'A' CHK AND 'B' CHK PAPERWORK INSPECTION OF THIS PITOT TUBE AND IT STATES IT IS DONE FROM THE GND. ITEM #6 ON THE ETOPS 1 CHK STATES GENERAL WALKAROUND ACCOMPLISHED FROM GND LEVEL. I FEEL THE ETOPS 1 PAPERWORK IS CONTRADICTORY WITH ITEM #6 AND ITEM #8 AND 'A' AND 'B' CHKS. REF WORK CARD X; 'B' CHK AND 'A' CHK CARD 'A' STATES ACCOMPLISHED FROM GND. I AM FILING THIS RPT TO HAVE THIS ISSUE CLARIFIED. CONTRADICTORY INFO CAUSING ENTRAPMENT OF MECH -- NO SPECIFIC PROC.

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.