An airbus A320 captain noticed #1 engine had three of the four engine cowls still open and a hydraul...

Attributes
ACN	784851
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : preflight
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 14500 flight time type : 4700
ASRS Report	784851
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : briefing contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Environmental Factor Company Chart Or Publication Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We had a #1 engine high pressure valve fail in ZZZ. Maintenance didn't have time to fix it; so they deferred it. I got the maintenance release and checked it and found it to be complete and properly deferred. The mechanic wanted to close up; but I felt like I should give the engine a quick look to make sure everything was ok. I was astounded when I went outside and found 3 of the cowlings open and a hydraulic hose hooked up to the engine. As far as I can tell; that is not in compliance with FARS. I should not have a new maintenance release if maintenance is still going on. I asked for a supervisor and he told me that it is new policy to send the maintenance release while still closing up to speed up the process. He said they could always send a new one if they found anything. I signed for this aircraft and took full responsibility for the aircraft and the safety of all the people on board. I am completely against the idea that the mechanics can send me a maintenance release with maintenance still going on. I have to be satisfied that everything is complete and safe; this does not offer me the opportunity to do that. I asked the mechanic for a new maintenance release but was refused because the one I had was supposedly current. I am asking for an investigation into this new policy to see if it truly complies with FAA directives.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS A320 CAPTAIN NOTICED #1 ENG HAD THREE OF THE FOUR ENG COWLS STILL OPEN AND A HYD HOSE HOOKED-UP TO THE SAME ENG; EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN A MAINT RELEASE FOR THE ACFT.

Narrative: WE HAD A #1 ENG HIGH PRESSURE VALVE FAIL IN ZZZ. MAINT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FIX IT; SO THEY DEFERRED IT. I GOT THE MAINT RELEASE AND CHKED IT AND FOUND IT TO BE COMPLETE AND PROPERLY DEFERRED. THE MECH WANTED TO CLOSE UP; BUT I FELT LIKE I SHOULD GIVE THE ENG A QUICK LOOK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OK. I WAS ASTOUNDED WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND 3 OF THE COWLINGS OPEN AND A HYD HOSE HOOKED UP TO THE ENG. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL; THAT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FARS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE A NEW MAINT RELEASE IF MAINT IS STILL GOING ON. I ASKED FOR A SUPVR AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS NEW POLICY TO SEND THE MAINT RELEASE WHILE STILL CLOSING UP TO SPD UP THE PROCESS. HE SAID THEY COULD ALWAYS SEND A NEW ONE IF THEY FOUND ANYTHING. I SIGNED FOR THIS ACFT AND TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACFT AND THE SAFETY OF ALL THE PEOPLE ON BOARD. I AM COMPLETELY AGAINST THE IDEA THAT THE MECHS CAN SEND ME A MAINT RELEASE WITH MAINT STILL GOING ON. I HAVE TO BE SATISFIED THAT EVERYTHING IS COMPLETE AND SAFE; THIS DOES NOT OFFER ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I ASKED THE MECH FOR A NEW MAINT RELEASE BUT WAS REFUSED BECAUSE THE ONE I HAD WAS SUPPOSEDLY CURRENT. I AM ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS NEW POLICY TO SEE IF IT TRULY COMPLIES WITH FAA DIRECTIVES.

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.

An airbus A320 captain noticed #1 engine had three of the four engine cowls still open and a hydraulic hose hooked-up to the same engine; even though he had already been given a maintenance release for the aircraft.