Narrative:

Event occurred because our air carrier has terminated most of our mechanics and now rely on contract maintenance people that are not supervised or watched over. First officer found a broken hub bolt on #2 tire. I (captain) called maintenance control to advise. I was told by maintenance control he would have to find a tire somewhere around the airport. I was then notified by ZZZ agents that some tires were brought in on the inbound flight. I went outside to find a new main wheel assembly. I called maintenance control back and informed him we had a tire. 2 contract maintenance guys showed up and I watched them remove and replace the tire assembly. My observation made me uncomfortable with the knowledge and experience of the mechanics as they didn't appear to know what they were doing and how to remove the brake fan assembly and tools they were using didn't fit the application. The tire change took approximately 3 hours. After they put the new tire on; I went back to the airplane to talk to agents. The mechanics returned with the logbook and told me everything was finished. I sent my first officer out to double-check the tire and he found they never inflated the tire as it was still flat; and 4 fan housing attach bolts didn't have the safeties completed. He told the mechanic the bolts needed to be safetied and the mechanic couldn't figure out how to bend the safely flat over the bolt flat and he; the first officer; had to show the mechanic how to do it properly. First officer went out to check the finished work and found the tire flat and attach bolts not safetied. First officer showed mechanic how to properly safety bolts. During tire removal; captain observed mechanics; and after completion of work first officer checked their work and found it negligent. Use only air carrier qualified and experienced mechanics. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the same contract maintenance provider of the mechanics that took three hours to change the #3 main tire on their A319; and still had to be directed by his first officer on how to complete the job; also advertise on their equipment truck the names of other carriers they perform maintenance for with similar aircraft. Reporter stated that two weeks later; another main tire change on another A319; was accomplished in approximately thirty minutes by one of his companys mechanics. He sure hopes they recall some of their mechanics soon; because they seemed to have had more experience and training. Reporter stated he also has his airframe and powerplant (ap) certificates with a maintenance background.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Captain of an A319 reports on the lack of experience and knowledge of mechanics; contracted by his carrier; who took three hours to change the #3 main tire; signing off the logbook and leaving the tire under-inflated.

Narrative: Event occurred because our air carrier has terminated most of our mechanics and now rely on contract maintenance people that are not supervised or watched over. First Officer found a broken hub bolt on #2 tire. I (Captain) called Maintenance Control to advise. I was told by Maintenance Control he would have to find a tire somewhere around the airport. I was then notified by ZZZ agents that some tires were brought in on the inbound flight. I went outside to find a new main wheel assembly. I called Maintenance Control back and informed him we had a tire. 2 Contract maintenance guys showed up and I watched them remove and replace the tire assembly. My observation made me uncomfortable with the knowledge and experience of the mechanics as they didn't appear to know what they were doing and how to remove the brake fan assembly and tools they were using didn't fit the application. The tire change took approximately 3 hours. After they put the new tire on; I went back to the airplane to talk to agents. The Mechanics returned with the logbook and told me everything was finished. I sent my First Officer out to double-check the tire and he found they never inflated the tire as it was still flat; and 4 fan housing attach bolts didn't have the safeties completed. He told the Mechanic the bolts needed to be safetied and the Mechanic couldn't figure out how to bend the safely flat over the bolt flat and he; the First Officer; had to show the Mechanic how to do it properly. First Officer went out to check the finished work and found the tire flat and attach bolts not safetied. First Officer showed Mechanic how to properly safety bolts. During tire removal; Captain observed mechanics; and after completion of work First Officer checked their work and found it negligent. Use only air carrier qualified and experienced mechanics. Callback conversation with Reporter revealed the following information: Reporter stated the same contract maintenance provider of the mechanics that took three hours to change the #3 main tire on their A319; and still had to be directed by his First Officer on how to complete the job; also advertise on their equipment truck the names of other carriers they perform maintenance for with similar aircraft. Reporter stated that two weeks later; another main tire change on another A319; was accomplished in approximately thirty minutes by one of his companys mechanics. He sure hopes they recall some of their mechanics soon; because they seemed to have had more experience and training. Reporter stated he also has his Airframe and Powerplant (AP) certificates with a maintenance background.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.