An A320 with a pressurization MEL did not pressurize after takeoff when maintenance was improperly p...

Attributes
ACN	813432
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	813432
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : pressurization ecam other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft would not pressurize after takeoff. Aircraft had MEL which required a special procedure. The procedure was accomplished by contract maintenance at ZZZZ and entered into logbook. On takeoff aircraft would not pressurize. We received clearance to return to field and made normal landing with aircraft being below maximum landing weight. MEL required maintenance to manually lock closed a vent valve and it turned out that after the procedure was performed by the mechanic; one of his helpers came along and returned the valve to what he thought was the correct position. One of the big problems here besides the mechanic not being familiar with the airbus was the language barrier. The procedure was another test; but I was satisfied with the work although I could not communicate very well with the mechanic. The reason that the event happened was because his helper did unauthorized work and did it after the procedure was accomplished and showed to be ok. This event could have been avoided if the flight crew had performed the procedure. Contract maintenance in a foreign country on a procedure like this is asking for trouble and that is exactly what we got.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 WITH A PRESSURIZATION MEL DID NOT PRESSURIZE AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN MAINTENANCE WAS IMPROPERLY PERFORMED BY MAINTENANCE AT A FOREIGN AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO LAND.

Narrative: ACFT WOULD NOT PRESSURIZE AFTER TKOF. ACFT HAD MEL WHICH REQUIRED A SPECIAL PROCEDURE. THE PROCEDURE WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY CONTRACT MAINT AT ZZZZ AND ENTERED INTO LOGBOOK. ON TKOF ACFT WOULD NOT PRESSURIZE. WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO RETURN TO FIELD AND MADE NORMAL LNDG WITH ACFT BEING BELOW MAX LNDG WT. MEL REQUIRED MAINT TO MANUALLY LOCK CLOSED A VENT VALVE AND IT TURNED OUT THAT AFTER THE PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED BY THE MECH; ONE OF HIS HELPERS CAME ALONG AND RETURNED THE VALVE TO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE CORRECT POS. ONE OF THE BIG PROBS HERE BESIDES THE MECH NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRBUS WAS THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. THE PROCEDURE WAS ANOTHER TEST; BUT I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE WORK ALTHOUGH I COULD NOT COMMUNICATE VERY WELL WITH THE MECH. THE REASON THAT THE EVENT HAPPENED WAS BECAUSE HIS HELPER DID UNAUTH WORK AND DID IT AFTER THE PROCEDURE WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND SHOWED TO BE OK. THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE FLT CREW HAD PERFORMED THE PROCEDURE. CONTRACT MAINT IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY ON A PROC LIKE THIS IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE GOT.

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 A320 with a pressurization MEL did not pressurize after takeoff when maintenance was improperly performed by maintenance at a foreign airport. Aircraft returned to land.