An MD80 aircraft flight crew reports that a contract maintenance provider tried to convince crew a leaking crew oxygen bottle valve handle was ok for continued service.

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Attributes
ACN	745806
Time
Date	200707
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	745806
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	745807
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oxygen bottle handle leaking other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : unqualified personnel performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : fault isolation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Upon rotating the crew oxygen valve; I noticed that the valve leaked at several points throughout the rotation toward full open. It could be manipulated to not leak in the full open position. When arriving at the gate the contract maintenance mechanic worked the valve and said it wasn't leaking in the full open position and began signing off the logbook. I went in and tested the valve again and found the same scenario with the leaks. The mechanic said several times; it's leaking because it's not in the full open position. He found this acceptable but finally said he would replace the bottle anyway. The new bottle didn't leak in any position and we were on our way. If the bottle had begun to leak after push; we possibly would have found ourselves without oxygen at altitude. This could have created an avoidable emergency situation. Not completing a 15 min fix in this scenario is frightening and unbelievable I can't believe it even happened; replace contract maintenance with air carrier maintenance issue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 ACFT FLIGHT CREW REPORTS THAT A CONTRACT MAINT PROVIDER TRIED TO CONVINCE CREW A LEAKING CREW OXYGEN BOTTLE VALVE HANDLE WAS OK FOR CONTINUED SERVICE.

Narrative: UPON ROTATING THE CREW OXYGEN VALVE; I NOTICED THAT THE VALVE LEAKED AT SEVERAL POINTS THROUGHOUT THE ROTATION TOWARD FULL OPEN. IT COULD BE MANIPULATED TO NOT LEAK IN THE FULL OPEN POS. WHEN ARRIVING AT THE GATE THE CONTRACT MAINT MECH WORKED THE VALVE AND SAID IT WASN'T LEAKING IN THE FULL OPEN POS AND BEGAN SIGNING OFF THE LOGBOOK. I WENT IN AND TESTED THE VALVE AGAIN AND FOUND THE SAME SCENARIO WITH THE LEAKS. THE MECH SAID SEVERAL TIMES; IT'S LEAKING BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE FULL OPEN POS. HE FOUND THIS ACCEPTABLE BUT FINALLY SAID HE WOULD REPLACE THE BOTTLE ANYWAY. THE NEW BOTTLE DIDN'T LEAK IN ANY POS AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY. IF THE BOTTLE HAD BEGUN TO LEAK AFTER PUSH; WE POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE FOUND OURSELVES WITHOUT OXYGEN AT ALT. THIS COULD HAVE CREATED AN AVOIDABLE EMER SITUATION. NOT COMPLETING A 15 MIN FIX IN THIS SCENARIO IS FRIGHTENING AND UNBELIEVABLE I CAN'T BELIEVE IT EVEN HAPPENED; REPLACE CONTRACT MAINT WITH ACR MAINT ISSUE.

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.