Narrative:

I work for air carrier X in denver. I was sent over to air carrier Y hangar to do contract maintenance for air carrier Z. I was told to do a die penetrant inspection on the support arm for the ram air turbine; (RAT). The problem is air carrier Z job card called out for a florescent die penetrant check. I used a red die penetrant check. Also there is a question as to whether I am qualified as in air carrier X training and qualifications list as being qualified to do this check. My foreman told me it is not a qualification. The aircraft was recalled and the proper inspection was accomplished. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states he was not an inspector. He was unaware there was any real difference between red dye penetrant and fluorescent dye penetrant (fpi) checks. He is experienced in red dye checks. Reporter; who works for major carrier; feels he was set-up by his supervisor when directed to perform dye check on a commuter aircraft RAT support arm and told qualifications were not required. Reporter also states he did sign-off all the items on the commuter aircraft paper work that specifically called out for fpi check even though he used a red dye check. Aircraft had already flown several legs before commuter company review noticed the discrepancy in the type of dye check performed. Reporter adds no one at his station is qualified; currently; to perform fpi checks and there is a conflict with the training department saying no qualification required; whereas their company qualification lists does in fact show separate qualifications for red dye and fpi.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MECHANIC FOR A MAJOR CARRIER SIGNED OFF JOB CARD USING RED DYE PENETRANT CHECK INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED (FPI) FLUORESCENT DYE PENETRANT ON A COMMUTER ACFT.

Narrative: I WORK FOR ACR X IN DENVER. I WAS SENT OVER TO ACR Y HANGAR TO DO CONTRACT MAINT FOR ACR Z. I WAS TOLD TO DO A DIE PENETRANT INSPECTION ON THE SUPPORT ARM FOR THE RAM AIR TURBINE; (RAT). THE PROB IS ACR Z JOB CARD CALLED OUT FOR A FLORESCENT DIE PENETRANT CHK. I USED A RED DIE PENETRANT CHK. ALSO THERE IS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER I AM QUALIFIED AS IN ACR X TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS LIST AS BEING QUALIFIED TO DO THIS CHK. MY FOREMAN TOLD ME IT IS NOT A QUALIFICATION. THE ACFT WAS RECALLED AND THE PROPER INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE WAS NOT AN INSPECTOR. HE WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS ANY REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RED DYE PENETRANT AND FLUORESCENT DYE PENETRANT (FPI) CHECKS. HE IS EXPERIENCED IN RED DYE CHECKS. REPORTER; WHO WORKS FOR MAJOR CARRIER; FEELS HE WAS SET-UP BY HIS SUPERVISOR WHEN DIRECTED TO PERFORM DYE CHECK ON A COMMUTER ACFT RAT SUPPORT ARM AND TOLD QUALIFICATIONS WERE NOT REQUIRED. REPORTER ALSO STATES HE DID SIGN-OFF ALL THE ITEMS ON THE COMMUTER ACFT PAPER WORK THAT SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT FOR FPI CHECK EVEN THOUGH HE USED A RED DYE CHECK. ACFT HAD ALREADY FLOWN SEVERAL LEGS BEFORE COMMUTER COMPANY REVIEW NOTICED THE DISCREPANCY IN THE TYPE OF DYE CHECK PERFORMED. REPORTER ADDS NO ONE AT HIS STATION IS QUALIFIED; CURRENTLY; TO PERFORM FPI CHECKS AND THERE IS A CONFLICT WITH THE TRAINING DEPT SAYING NO QUALIFICATION REQUIRED; WHEREAS THEIR COMPANY QUALIFICATION LISTS DOES IN FACT SHOW SEPARATE QUALIFICATIONS FOR RED DYE AND FPI.

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.