A B737-700 was released for service after a major alteration without the airworthiness release being...

Attributes
ACN	718705
Time
Date	200610
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	718705
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure 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 : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

On oct/mon/06 I completed a r-hand window plug modification in accordance with aircraft change order on aircraft. I was notified during shift on a subsequent day that an airworthiness release had not been accomplished after completion of aircraft change order. The aircraft was issued a check and did not received a 'check' driven airworthiness release. I did not accomplish an airworthiness release because I did not realize the modification was a major alteration. I believe the following suggestions could have prevented this problem and could prevent further problems. 1) modifications are issued with no briefing as to scope and detail. Aircraft change orders should be briefed. 2) every check that requires an airworthiness release has a signoff block in the paperwork for the airworthiness release. If an aircraft change order requires an airworthiness release; it should be a paperwork signoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 WAS RELEASED FOR SVC AFTER A MAJOR ALTERATION WITHOUT THE AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE BEING PROPERLY SIGNED.

Narrative: ON OCT/MON/06 I COMPLETED A R-HAND WINDOW PLUG MODIFICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACFT CHANGE ORDER ON ACFT. I WAS NOTIFIED DURING SHIFT ON A SUBSEQUENT DAY THAT AN AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AFTER COMPLETION OF ACFT CHANGE ORDER. THE ACFT WAS ISSUED A CHK AND DID NOT RECEIVED A 'CHK' DRIVEN AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE. I DID NOT ACCOMPLISH AN AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE BECAUSE I DID NOT REALIZE THE MODIFICATION WAS A MAJOR ALTERATION. I BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS PROB AND COULD PREVENT FURTHER PROBS. 1) MODIFICATIONS ARE ISSUED WITH NO BRIEFING AS TO SCOPE AND DETAIL. ACFT CHANGE ORDERS SHOULD BE BRIEFED. 2) EVERY CHK THAT REQUIRES AN AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE HAS A SIGNOFF BLOCK IN THE PAPERWORK FOR THE AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE. IF AN ACFT CHANGE ORDER REQUIRES AN AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE; IT SHOULD BE A PAPERWORK SIGNOFF.

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.

A B737-700 was released for service after a major alteration without the airworthiness release being properly signed.