A lead mechanic describes the practice and reason for not accomplishing required rii inspections of ...

Attributes
ACN	794420
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
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
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : lead technician
ASRS Report	794420
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : briefing performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Mechanic replaced engine sync actuator and controller for engine sync MEL. Test unit was used for operations check. System tested ok and engine sync placard was cleared. Mechanic replaced engine EPR driver. Did not clear EPR sync placard due to engine run requirement; and did not upgrade landing minimums CAT I - CAT ii autoland. Since tested was used and the procedure that has been followed here has been to not disconnect power trimmer rod unless trimmer is changed; we have always null'ed actuator and trimmer per maintenance manual and to correct length and measurement; and to proper number of clicks on actuator. When you do not disconnect the trimmer is where the rii problem has occurred. I was aware of other flight control rii requirements but not of this one. We have done this on numerous occasions over the yrs. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated their md-80's have the pw 217-9X type engines. Only the #1 engine has the engine sync actuator which is mounted on the inboard side of the engine. The sync actuator receives electrical signals from the engine controller to match the #2 engine performance; and syncs the #1 engine throttle trim via a teleflex cable to the #1 engine power trimmer and fuel control. They could not sign off the engine EPR sync placard due to the automatic throttles were not repaired and an engine EPR run would also be required. Reporter stated the misunderstanding of the required rii inspection has been clarified and will be accomplished.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LEAD MECHANIC DESCRIBES THE PRACTICE AND REASON FOR NOT ACCOMPLISHING REQUIRED RII INSPECTIONS OF THE #1 ENG SYNC ACTUATOR WHEN THEY WERE REPLACED AT HIS STATION.

Narrative: MECH REPLACED ENG SYNC ACTUATOR AND CONTROLLER FOR ENG SYNC MEL. TEST UNIT WAS USED FOR OPS CHK. SYS TESTED OK AND ENG SYNC PLACARD WAS CLRED. MECH REPLACED ENG EPR DRIVER. DID NOT CLR EPR SYNC PLACARD DUE TO ENG RUN REQUIREMENT; AND DID NOT UPGRADE LNDG MINIMUMS CAT I - CAT II AUTOLAND. SINCE TESTED WAS USED AND THE PROC THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED HERE HAS BEEN TO NOT DISCONNECT PWR TRIMMER ROD UNLESS TRIMMER IS CHANGED; WE HAVE ALWAYS NULL'ED ACTUATOR AND TRIMMER PER MAINT MANUAL AND TO CORRECT LENGTH AND MEASUREMENT; AND TO PROPER NUMBER OF CLICKS ON ACTUATOR. WHEN YOU DO NOT DISCONNECT THE TRIMMER IS WHERE THE RII PROB HAS OCCURRED. I WAS AWARE OF OTHER FLT CTL RII REQUIREMENTS BUT NOT OF THIS ONE. WE HAVE DONE THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE YRS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THEIR MD-80'S HAVE THE PW 217-9X TYPE ENGINES. ONLY THE #1 ENGINE HAS THE ENG SYNC ACTUATOR WHICH IS MOUNTED ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE ENG. THE SYNC ACTUATOR RECEIVES ELECTRICAL SIGNALS FROM THE ENGINE CONTROLLER TO MATCH THE #2 ENG PERFORMANCE; AND SYNCS THE #1 ENG THROTTLE TRIM VIA A TELEFLEX CABLE TO THE #1 ENG POWER TRIMMER AND FUEL CONTROL. THEY COULD NOT SIGN OFF THE ENG EPR SYNC PLACARD DUE TO THE AUTO THROTTLES WERE NOT REPAIRED AND AN ENGINE EPR RUN WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED. REPORTER STATED THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUIRED RII INSPECTION HAS BEEN CLARIFIED AND WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.

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.

A lead mechanic describes the practice and reason for not accomplishing required rii inspections of the #1 engine sync actuator when they were replaced at his station.