Narrative:

I had 3 aircraft and 6 mechanics. Aircraft came in with a write-up 'cabin pressure system #1 and #2 fault' ECAM message. The MEL on the aircraft read automatic cabin pressure control system #1 inoperative. I called maintenance control to alert them that we had a problem with the pressurization system. I then told my supervisor we might need an outflow valve. Supervisor started the process of acquiring one because the redeye would be here in time to change the valve and take as small of a delay as possible. I think that's when our focus went to the outflow valve. We had to prove the valve would be the fix. The amm PB04 checked good; checked MEL condition B; all checked good. Could not duplicate the problem or find any faults. I do not know who decided not to change the valve knowing it was on the way. Between the distrs of dealing with 2 other planes and helping the 4 other guys with rather minor problems. The focus being on the valve when it got to crunch time and I can't remember who said it went something like; 'what's the problem? It's on MEL just say system on MEL; aircraft to continue on MEL; defer outflow valve.' remember the duty manager; maintenance control was contacted several times and was up to speed as things progressed. My supervisor and whoever canceled the job request and my willingness to fall for the old 'what's the problem?' are the reasons for this error. Next station changed outflow valve. Spoke to supervisor regarding situation and future plan of action. Interpretation of the problem stated; coupled with distrs; misinfo. I must not be pressured to hurry for the sake of making flight times. I must consider the sources from whom I ask for help. Doublechk every possible chance of interpretation of the MEL/cdl books. When I feel uneasy about things; take a step back and rethink and give it to my supervisor to sign off.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LEAD MECHANIC REPORTS HE LET HIMSELF BE PRESSURED INTO ALLOWING AN MEL DEFERRAL OF AN AIRBUS A319 AUTO CABIN PRESSURE SYS #1 INOP; WHEN IN FACT BOTH CABIN PRESSURE SYS #1 AND 2 HAD ECAM FAULT MESSAGES REQUIRING OUTFLOW VALVE CHANGE.

Narrative: I HAD 3 ACFT AND 6 MECHS. ACFT CAME IN WITH A WRITE-UP 'CABIN PRESSURE SYS #1 AND #2 FAULT' ECAM MESSAGE. THE MEL ON THE ACFT READ AUTOMATIC CABIN PRESSURE CTL SYS #1 INOP. I CALLED MAINT CTL TO ALERT THEM THAT WE HAD A PROB WITH THE PRESSURIZATION SYS. I THEN TOLD MY SUPVR WE MIGHT NEED AN OUTFLOW VALVE. SUPVR STARTED THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING ONE BECAUSE THE REDEYE WOULD BE HERE IN TIME TO CHANGE THE VALVE AND TAKE AS SMALL OF A DELAY AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THAT'S WHEN OUR FOCUS WENT TO THE OUTFLOW VALVE. WE HAD TO PROVE THE VALVE WOULD BE THE FIX. THE AMM PB04 CHKED GOOD; CHKED MEL CONDITION B; ALL CHKED GOOD. COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROB OR FIND ANY FAULTS. I DO NOT KNOW WHO DECIDED NOT TO CHANGE THE VALVE KNOWING IT WAS ON THE WAY. BTWN THE DISTRS OF DEALING WITH 2 OTHER PLANES AND HELPING THE 4 OTHER GUYS WITH RATHER MINOR PROBS. THE FOCUS BEING ON THE VALVE WHEN IT GOT TO CRUNCH TIME AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID IT WENT SOMETHING LIKE; 'WHAT'S THE PROB? IT'S ON MEL JUST SAY SYS ON MEL; ACFT TO CONTINUE ON MEL; DEFER OUTFLOW VALVE.' REMEMBER THE DUTY MGR; MAINT CTL WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UP TO SPD AS THINGS PROGRESSED. MY SUPVR AND WHOEVER CANCELED THE JOB REQUEST AND MY WILLINGNESS TO FALL FOR THE OLD 'WHAT'S THE PROB?' ARE THE REASONS FOR THIS ERROR. NEXT STATION CHANGED OUTFLOW VALVE. SPOKE TO SUPVR REGARDING SITUATION AND FUTURE PLAN OF ACTION. INTERP OF THE PROB STATED; COUPLED WITH DISTRS; MISINFO. I MUST NOT BE PRESSURED TO HURRY FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING FLT TIMES. I MUST CONSIDER THE SOURCES FROM WHOM I ASK FOR HELP. DOUBLECHK EVERY POSSIBLE CHANCE OF INTERP OF THE MEL/CDL BOOKS. WHEN I FEEL UNEASY ABOUT THINGS; TAKE A STEP BACK AND RETHINK AND GIVE IT TO MY SUPVR TO SIGN OFF.

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.