Narrative:

#2 engine inboard thrust reverser sleeve was installed. When blocker doors were installed; attach bolts were installed incorrectly. I did look at the bolts; saw they were installed and secured to arm and door. Operated thrust reverser with power on. Checked for hydraulic leaks -- none. Operation of thrust reverser: thrust reverser operated smooth; no grinding or jerking. Lights in cockpit -- normal. Lower slider was out of track. When I looked; latches were locked; thrust reverser was flush and smooth with outer thrust reverser; did not notice a difference. On the date this occurred; I was 1 of 4 inspectors covering planes and numerous mechanics. The aircraft at the time was not airworthy -- an out of service aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSPECTOR DID NOT NOTICE THE BLOCKER DOORS ATTACH BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY; AFTER THE #2 ENG INBOARD THRUST REVERSER SLEEVE WAS INSTALLED ON A B737-500.

Narrative: #2 ENG INBOARD THRUST REVERSER SLEEVE WAS INSTALLED. WHEN BLOCKER DOORS WERE INSTALLED; ATTACH BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. I DID LOOK AT THE BOLTS; SAW THEY WERE INSTALLED AND SECURED TO ARM AND DOOR. OPERATED THRUST REVERSER WITH PWR ON. CHKED FOR HYD LEAKS -- NONE. OP OF THRUST REVERSER: THRUST REVERSER OPERATED SMOOTH; NO GRINDING OR JERKING. LIGHTS IN COCKPIT -- NORMAL. LOWER SLIDER WAS OUT OF TRACK. WHEN I LOOKED; LATCHES WERE LOCKED; THRUST REVERSER WAS FLUSH AND SMOOTH WITH OUTER THRUST REVERSER; DID NOT NOTICE A DIFFERENCE. ON THE DATE THIS OCCURRED; I WAS 1 OF 4 INSPECTORS COVERING PLANES AND NUMEROUS MECHS. THE ACFT AT THE TIME WAS NOT AIRWORTHY -- AN OUT OF SERVICE ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.