A emb-140 rudder was not removed as required per maintenance manual to replace upper/lower hinges.

Attributes
ACN	730806
Time
Date	200703
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 140 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
ASRS Report	730806
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : briefing performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Rudder #1 upper and lower hinge was found to have excessive movement by 3RD check. I turned this item over to 1ST crew. When I returned to work; I discovered the rudder was never removed to correct the problem. The maintenance personnel involved in the corrective action stated both hinges were replaced; but the rudder was not removed. Work was in accordance with EMB140 amm. I reviewed amm and discovered the rudder needed to be removed per the manual procedures. My supervisor told me we do not need to remove the rudder to replace the hinge. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: at the time of the rudder hinge change; no written authorization was given for the supervisor to deviate from the requirement to remove the rudder for hinge changes. A flight test is not required when rudder is removed/reinstalled. Reporter also stated; since he raised the issue of MM requirement for rudder removal he heard that a revision to the MM to allow hinge changes with rudder installed is forthcoming.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A EMB-140 RUDDER WAS NOT REMOVED AS REQUIRED PER MAINT MANUAL TO REPLACE UPPER/LOWER HINGES.

Narrative: RUDDER #1 UPPER AND LOWER HINGE WAS FOUND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT BY 3RD CHK. I TURNED THIS ITEM OVER TO 1ST CREW. WHEN I RETURNED TO WORK; I DISCOVERED THE RUDDER WAS NEVER REMOVED TO CORRECT THE PROB. THE MAINT PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE CORRECTIVE ACTION STATED BOTH HINGES WERE REPLACED; BUT THE RUDDER WAS NOT REMOVED. WORK WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EMB140 AMM. I REVIEWED AMM AND DISCOVERED THE RUDDER NEEDED TO BE REMOVED PER THE MANUAL PROCS. MY SUPVR TOLD ME WE DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THE RUDDER TO REPLACE THE HINGE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: AT THE TIME OF THE RUDDER HINGE CHANGE; NO WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION WAS GIVEN FOR THE SUPERVISOR TO DEVIATE FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO REMOVE THE RUDDER FOR HINGE CHANGES. A FLIGHT TEST IS NOT REQUIRED WHEN RUDDER IS REMOVED/REINSTALLED. REPORTER ALSO STATED; SINCE HE RAISED THE ISSUE OF MM REQUIREMENT FOR RUDDER REMOVAL HE HEARD THAT A REVISION TO THE MM TO ALLOW HINGE CHANGES WITH RUDDER INSTALLED IS FORTHCOMING.

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.