During preflight pilot notices the main cabin entry door support wheel did not lock into place on th...

Attributes
ACN	806296
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	806296
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : repair
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was the first person to arrive at the aircraft after a long overnight and aircraft change and started to preflight the aircraft. I noticed that the support wheel at the main cabin door did not lock into place and called maintenance in ZZZ. A contract mechanic showed up shortly after. I asked him what the verdict was and he said he was going to fix it. He apparently got a pin from the tug's tow bar and put it in to replace the missing pin. It looked as if it could cut the press seal; so he cut it off. He then signed the maintenance log and sent us on our way to ZZZ1. Before we left; one of the ramp agents told me I owed them a pin for their tow bar. I was trying to get the flight out and didn't think about the incident until after we left. It just didn't sound right. Finally in ZZZ3; I decided to ask maintenance if that was legal. I know that under certain circumstances; nonstandard parts can be used; but wasn't sure if we were in fact legal to use that particular pin. I don't think that bombardier was called to get permission to use that pin; but have a hard time thinking that a maintenance controller would authority/authorized an illegal part and a mechanic would actually put his license on the line and sign a fix like this. Maintenance in ZZZ3 replaced the pin with an approved part.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING PREFLIGHT PILOT NOTICES THE MAIN CABIN ENTRY DOOR SUPPORT WHEEL DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE ON THE CRJ-200. LATER QUESTIONS WHETHER THE NON-STANDARD REPLACEMENT PIN WAS A PROPERLY AUTHORIZED LEGAL PART.

Narrative: I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO ARRIVE AT THE ACFT AFTER A LONG OVERNIGHT AND ACFT CHANGE AND STARTED TO PREFLT THE ACFT. I NOTICED THAT THE SUPPORT WHEEL AT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND CALLED MAINT IN ZZZ. A CONTRACT MECH SHOWED UP SHORTLY AFTER. I ASKED HIM WHAT THE VERDICT WAS AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO FIX IT. HE APPARENTLY GOT A PIN FROM THE TUG'S TOW BAR AND PUT IT IN TO REPLACE THE MISSING PIN. IT LOOKED AS IF IT COULD CUT THE PRESS SEAL; SO HE CUT IT OFF. HE THEN SIGNED THE MAINT LOG AND SENT US ON OUR WAY TO ZZZ1. BEFORE WE LEFT; ONE OF THE RAMP AGENTS TOLD ME I OWED THEM A PIN FOR THEIR TOW BAR. I WAS TRYING TO GET THE FLT OUT AND DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE INCIDENT UNTIL AFTER WE LEFT. IT JUST DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT. FINALLY IN ZZZ3; I DECIDED TO ASK MAINT IF THAT WAS LEGAL. I KNOW THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; NONSTANDARD PARTS CAN BE USED; BUT WASN'T SURE IF WE WERE IN FACT LEGAL TO USE THAT PARTICULAR PIN. I DON'T THINK THAT BOMBARDIER WAS CALLED TO GET PERMISSION TO USE THAT PIN; BUT HAVE A HARD TIME THINKING THAT A MAINT CTLR WOULD AUTH AN ILLEGAL PART AND A MECH WOULD ACTUALLY PUT HIS LICENSE ON THE LINE AND SIGN A FIX LIKE THIS. MAINT IN ZZZ3 REPLACED THE PIN WITH AN APPROVED PART.

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.

During preflight pilot notices the main cabin entry door support wheel did not lock into place on the crj-200. Later questions whether the non-standard replacement pin was a properly authorized legal part.