Narrative:

January 2009; I replaced a cockpit portable halon fire extinguisher due to weight date expiring per the service check requirements. I was notified may 2009; that the extinguisher I installed was the wrong effectivity for the B757-200 aircraft; which was discovered during a configuration audit. I performed the portable fire extinguisher replacement per B757 'a' check paperwork per item note that states: there are two different types of halon fire extinguisher installed on the B757. Item note also references a figure; which shows the two different configurations; old and new. The bottles are not interchangeable due to different brackets installed for the old and the new type extinguishers. I performed the general procedures manual for data entry and shipping the removed bottle; which shows the manufacturer part number (mpn) removed as 5-1211. The mpn installed was 5-1211. I installed the same mpn bottle as was removed. The alternate bottle; according to the 'a' check; would not have fit in the bracket installed in the cockpit. The 'a' check does not state that the effectivities are different between aircraft; the 'a' check just states there are two different types installed on the B757. Nothing led me to believe the bottle I was installing was an incorrect bottle; based on the 'a' check paperwork and the fact that I installed the same part number bottle as was removed; and that the bracket installed would only fit the bottle installed. The incident has reminded me of the importance of verifying all part numbers per the illustrated parts catalog (ipc); due to so many configuration differences! I will be diligent in the future of verifying part number's in the ipc for all aircraft equipment; as complacency sometimes impairs our judgment.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Mechanic reports he removed and replaced a cockpit portable halon fire extinguisher on a B757-200; per their 'A' check paperwork. Months later; after a configuration audit; he was informed he had installed a bottle that was not effective for that aircraft. Different mounting brackets; service check paperwork and the illustrated parts catalog (IPC) were contributory factors.

Narrative: January 2009; I replaced a cockpit portable halon fire extinguisher due to weight date expiring per the service check requirements. I was notified May 2009; that the extinguisher I installed was the wrong effectivity for the B757-200 aircraft; which was discovered during a configuration audit. I performed the portable fire extinguisher replacement per B757 'A' check paperwork per item note that states: There are two different types of halon fire extinguisher installed on the B757. Item note also references a figure; which shows the two different configurations; old and new. The bottles are not interchangeable due to different brackets installed for the old and the new type extinguishers. I performed the general procedures manual for data entry and shipping the removed bottle; which shows the manufacturer part number (MPN) removed as 5-1211. The MPN installed was 5-1211. I installed the same MPN bottle as was removed. The alternate bottle; according to the 'A' check; would not have fit in the bracket installed in the cockpit. The 'A' check does not state that the effectivities are different between aircraft; the 'A' check just states there are two different types installed on the B757. Nothing led me to believe the bottle I was installing was an incorrect bottle; based on the 'A' check paperwork and the fact that I installed the same part number bottle as was removed; and that the bracket installed would only fit the bottle installed. The incident has reminded me of the importance of verifying all part numbers per the illustrated parts catalog (IPC); due to so many configuration differences! I will be diligent in the future of verifying part number's in the IPC for all aircraft equipment; as complacency sometimes impairs our judgment.

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.