A319 pilot discovered dent within rvsm critical area of fuselage. Aircraft had flown numerous flts i...

Attributes
ACN	737511
Time
Date	200705
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdl.airport
State Reference	CT
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1885
ASRS Report	737511
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I noticed a dent on the walkaround that appeared to intrude on rvsm critical area. I thought I could see a DOT on it; but I wanted to check with maintenance. I asked what the history was; and if he could guarantee me that dent had been evaluated for rvsm. Maintenance said yes for structural history but not sure about rvsm. I offered dispatch and maintenance that since it was approved for structural integrity; we could take it non rvsm to destination for a better look. They agreed to go. I called maintenance the next morning to inquire if the further checks had been done; they said maintenance inspected the aircraft and said it was not rvsm capable. Maintenance said this aircraft had been flying that way for a while. I wonder how the aircraft has flown this long without anyone addressing the rvsm issue. Is our maintenance guidance or pilot FM guidance incompatible for dents in the rvsm critical area?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 PLT DISCOVERED DENT WITHIN RVSM CRITICAL AREA OF FUSELAGE. ACFT HAD FLOWN NUMEROUS FLTS IN THIS CONDITION.

Narrative: I NOTICED A DENT ON THE WALKAROUND THAT APPEARED TO INTRUDE ON RVSM CRITICAL AREA. I THOUGHT I COULD SEE A DOT ON IT; BUT I WANTED TO CHK WITH MAINT. I ASKED WHAT THE HISTORY WAS; AND IF HE COULD GUARANTEE ME THAT DENT HAD BEEN EVALUATED FOR RVSM. MAINT SAID YES FOR STRUCTURAL HISTORY BUT NOT SURE ABOUT RVSM. I OFFERED DISPATCH AND MAINT THAT SINCE IT WAS APPROVED FOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY; WE COULD TAKE IT NON RVSM TO DEST FOR A BETTER LOOK. THEY AGREED TO GO. I CALLED MAINT THE NEXT MORNING TO INQUIRE IF THE FURTHER CHKS HAD BEEN DONE; THEY SAID MAINT INSPECTED THE ACFT AND SAID IT WAS NOT RVSM CAPABLE. MAINT SAID THIS ACFT HAD BEEN FLYING THAT WAY FOR A WHILE. I WONDER HOW THE ACFT HAS FLOWN THIS LONG WITHOUT ANYONE ADDRESSING THE RVSM ISSUE. IS OUR MAINT GUIDANCE OR PLT FM GUIDANCE INCOMPATIBLE FOR DENTS IN THE RVSM CRITICAL AREA?

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.

A319 pilot discovered dent within rvsm critical area of fuselage. Aircraft had flown numerous flts in this condition.