<< >> NASA ASRS Report 785638, May 2008

A B757-200 captain reports that a cockpit door threshold light is inoperative. Mechanic shows pilot the inoperative light bulb being held in position with masking tape that had burn marks and potential fire hazard.

Attributes
ACN	785638
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	785638
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Upon arrival at ZZZ; I sent an ACARS maintenance report for the cockpit door threshold light inoperative. I spoke with an amt about it; and he said that he would change the bulb. Upon returning to the cockpit; the amt informed me of what he found and showed me. The light bulb was held in position under the lens cover with common masking tape. There were burn marks on the tape around where it was up against the bulb. The bulb burns for long periods of time whenever the door is open to illuminate the step down into the cockpit. The amt said that a fire could have started from the burning of the tape. Further entries in ACARS were made documenting these findings so a log history would be relevant. An amt supervisor was asked to see this event as well; but when he came to the aircraft; he seemed somewhat indifferent and walked away. Totally unprofessional.

Related reports:

• Runway lights and threshold lights inoperative. Approach and...

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 CAPTAIN REPORTS THAT A COCKPIT DOOR THRESHOLD LIGHT IS INOP. MECHANIC SHOWS PILOT THE INOP LIGHT BULB BEING HELD IN POSITION WITH MASKING TAPE THAT HAD BURN MARKS AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.

Narrative: UPON ARR AT ZZZ; I SENT AN ACARS MAINT RPT FOR THE COCKPIT DOOR THRESHOLD LIGHT INOP. I SPOKE WITH AN AMT ABOUT IT; AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD CHANGE THE BULB. UPON RETURNING TO THE COCKPIT; THE AMT INFORMED ME OF WHAT HE FOUND AND SHOWED ME. THE LIGHT BULB WAS HELD IN POS UNDER THE LENS COVER WITH COMMON MASKING TAPE. THERE WERE BURN MARKS ON THE TAPE AROUND WHERE IT WAS UP AGAINST THE BULB. THE BULB BURNS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPEN TO ILLUMINATE THE STEP DOWN INTO THE COCKPIT. THE AMT SAID THAT A FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED FROM THE BURNING OF THE TAPE. FURTHER ENTRIES IN ACARS WERE MADE DOCUMENTING THESE FINDINGS SO A LOG HISTORY WOULD BE RELEVANT. AN AMT SUPVR WAS ASKED TO SEE THIS EVENT AS WELL; BUT WHEN HE CAME TO THE ACFT; HE SEEMED SOMEWHAT INDIFFERENT AND WALKED AWAY. TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.

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.