Narrative:

December 2010; I received instructions for my crew to assist ZZZ field trip [mechanics] in repacking the nose strut inner cylinder on aircraft X; a B777. This entails removing the inner cylinder from the nose gear with the gear pit [hangar floor] lowered. I assigned four mechanics from my crew. They readied the aircraft for the work and when the field trip mechanics arrived from ZZZ; they began work. As they proceeded; I informed the cabin service [workers] that they should exit the aircraft and remove their truck from the entrance door. The truck was removed and all personnel left the aircraft at about xa:30pm.while work proceeded on the nose gear repack; I had other aircraft assigned to the [rest of my] crew and I went about my duties checking on these crews. At xb:45am I was informed that aircraft Y had to be delivered to the gate and the crew working aircraft Y needed a radio operator. Everyone else was busy working; so being qualified I went as the radio man. After returning to the hanger; I entered my lead [mechanic] office work area and did some paperwork.then I decided to check on aircraft X. Upon exiting the lead [mechanic] office; I observed a cabin service truck attached to the entrance door of aircraft X. I immediately checked to see that the crew working [in the gear pit] was safe; then asked the supervisor why the truck was there and was informed that the manager had ordered it back on. I then said that this was a safety concern that the aircraft could have been struck by the truck and could still shift off the [landing gear] jacks endangering the crew and aircraft. He said that I should talk to the manager; that it was his decision. I then found a union shop steward and informed him of this and asked him to confront the manager. Then returned to the aircraft and as I approached the aircraft; the union's local chairman informed me that I should remove the crew from the area of danger; but the crew was already safe and the jacks were removed. Then the shop steward arrived telling me the manager refused to admit that this was unsafe and that nothing needed to be done. [A few days later]; I was informed by our union safety representative that I should report this safety violation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Lead Mechanic reports their Manager ordered a cabin service truck be attached to the entrance door of a B777 aircraft while the aircraft was on jacks and mechanics were repacking the nose landing gear in a floor pit.

Narrative: December 2010; I received instructions for my crew to assist ZZZ field trip [mechanics] in repacking the nose strut inner cylinder on aircraft X; a B777. This entails removing the inner cylinder from the nose gear with the gear pit [hangar floor] lowered. I assigned four mechanics from my crew. They readied the aircraft for the work and when the field trip mechanics arrived from ZZZ; they began work. As they proceeded; I informed the cabin service [workers] that they should exit the aircraft and remove their truck from the entrance door. The truck was removed and all personnel left the aircraft at about XA:30pm.While work proceeded on the nose gear repack; I had other aircraft assigned to the [rest of my] crew and I went about my duties checking on these crews. At XB:45am I was informed that aircraft Y had to be delivered to the gate and the crew working Aircraft Y needed a Radio Operator. Everyone else was busy working; so being qualified I went as the Radio man. After returning to the hanger; I entered my Lead [Mechanic] office work area and did some paperwork.Then I decided to check on aircraft X. Upon exiting the Lead [Mechanic] office; I observed a cabin service truck attached to the entrance door of aircraft X. I immediately checked to see that the crew working [in the gear pit] was safe; then asked the Supervisor why the truck was there and was informed that the Manager had ordered it back on. I then said that this was a safety concern that the aircraft could have been struck by the truck and could still shift off the [landing gear] jacks endangering the crew and aircraft. He said that I should talk to the Manager; that it was his decision. I then found a Union Shop Steward and informed him of this and asked him to confront the Manager. Then returned to the aircraft and as I approached the aircraft; the Union's Local Chairman informed me that I should remove the crew from the area of danger; but the crew was already safe and the jacks were removed. Then the Shop Steward arrived telling me the Manager refused to admit that this was unsafe and that nothing needed to be done. [A few days later]; I was informed by our Union Safety Representative that I should report this safety violation.

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.