Narrative:

A B717 aircraft was in for an a-check with a task card to replace the fixed airframe mounted engine/APU fire bottle squibs to comply with time change requirements. Of the two bottles (# 1 and # 2) located in the aft accessory compartment; one of the two bottles required all three (engine 1; 2 and APU) squibs to be changed. The other bottle required only the engine squibs to be replaced. The mechanic inadvertently replaced all three squibs on the wrong fire bottle and failed to replace the required APU squib on the other bottle. As the attending inspector; it is my responsibility to assure that the work is done correctly; I failed to catch and correct the error; and did not realize it at the time; unaware of the mistake until it was brought to my attention later.the error was discovered by company maintenance in ZZZ1 on the next a-check on a follow-up task card. My understanding is that a fire bottle squib dom (date of manufacture) tag check card was issued against a B717 aircraft and ZZZ1 maintenance discovered that the squib in question had overflown its expiration date by approximately 19 days. The discrepancy was documented and repaired.B717 airframe engine/APU fire bottles are mounted in the aft accessory compartment in very close confines. Installed clearances of components in the area are very compact and tight. The squibs are difficult to access and see and usually require a lot of positioning of one's self and the use of a mirror and strong flashlight. The compartment at the time was very hot and stuffy and the close confines can make breathing difficult; which is what happened to me. As a result; I may not have been as alert as I should have been and did not see the error. I may have been tired at the time this incident occurred. ZZZ1 maintenance documented the discrepancy and replaced the expired APU squib.astute absolute attention to detail: exactly what the task card is calling out and to make 100% certain that I identify bottle # 1 as distinguished from bottle # 2--and make 100% certain that the correct action was taken against the proper component!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Maintenance Inspector reports he failed to notice a Mechanic had inadvertently replaced all three squibs on the wrong fire bottle. Mechanic had also failed to replace the required APU squib on the other bottle during the same A-Check. Company Maintenance at a different station discovered the expired squib date during the next follow-up A-Check.

Narrative: A B717 aircraft was in for an A-check with a Task Card to replace the fixed airframe mounted engine/APU fire bottle squibs to comply with time change requirements. Of the two bottles (# 1 and # 2) located in the Aft Accessory Compartment; one of the two bottles required all three (engine 1; 2 and APU) squibs to be changed. The other bottle required only the engine squibs to be replaced. The Mechanic inadvertently replaced all three squibs on the wrong fire bottle and failed to replace the required APU squib on the other bottle. As the attending Inspector; it is my responsibility to assure that the work is done correctly; I failed to catch and correct the error; and did not realize it at the time; unaware of the mistake until it was brought to my attention later.The error was discovered by company Maintenance in ZZZ1 on the next A-Check on a follow-up Task Card. My understanding is that a Fire Bottle Squib DOM (Date of Manufacture) Tag Check Card was issued against a B717 aircraft and ZZZ1 Maintenance discovered that the squib in question had overflown its expiration date by approximately 19 days. The discrepancy was documented and repaired.B717 airframe engine/APU fire bottles are mounted in the Aft Accessory Compartment in very close confines. Installed clearances of components in the area are very compact and tight. The squibs are difficult to access and see and usually require a lot of positioning of one's self and the use of a mirror and strong flashlight. The compartment at the time was very hot and stuffy and the close confines can make breathing difficult; which is what happened to me. As a result; I may not have been as alert as I should have been and did not see the error. I may have been tired at the time this incident occurred. ZZZ1 Maintenance documented the discrepancy and replaced the expired APU squib.Astute absolute attention to detail: exactly what the task card is calling out and to make 100% certain that I identify bottle # 1 as distinguished from bottle # 2--and make 100% certain that the correct action was taken against the proper component!

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.