Narrative:

In february I was notified that there was going to be an investigation of an occurrence on a B757-200 aircraft; after landing; [when] the nose wheel steering tiller (handle) would not center when released. When [steering] input selected; tiller stays in that position and will not return to zero (0) index; [noted on] log page by pilot. I; as an inspector; had been involved in the rigging of this system during a recent heavy (8-C) check. I and the technician that worked on this system were told that a rod for the rudder interconnect had been found disconnected; item of detail in aircraft maintenance manual (amm) 32-51-00-835. This rod had been reconnected during our testing and the bolt and a self-locking nut was reinstalled during the work accomplished that I witnessed during the heavy check in january. The nose steering cables in the left wheel well tunnel were adjusted and re-safetied per amm 32-51-00; step 'east'. Also the rudder interconnect rod was reinstalled per the [same] amm procedures.the nose wheel steering was checked per work cards. Amm 32-51-00 was used to comply with this work step and the nose wheel steering function as required. The technician and I signed-off the work card step. [With] my quality control (qc) stamp number being XXX; I was the last inspector to see this process. I climbed into the left wheel well tunnel thru the electronic equipment (east/east) door to see that the steering cables were safetied. After exiting the east/east; I climbed a ladder to see that the rig pins and that the rudder interconnect rod; item # 20; was installed and secured. [Again] in january; this rod was secured. Also the nose steering cables were safetied and the nose wheel steering functioned per the work card and the amm. The technician that corrected (signed-off) the pilot's log page [stated] that he performed rigging of the nose wheel steering (NWS) system reference amm 32-51-00 and all operational checks and rig had checked good at that time. The aircraft was out of service for a few hours and is back in service. This is the events as I saw them on that day.a red streamer will be attached to any rods that are removed in the future and a non-routine [write-up] will be written upon their removal; only to be signed-off after they are reconnected. Also; I will from this day forward use torque seal on all bolts and nuts that are reinstalled. All maintenance will be documented on non-routines and work cards.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Inspector and a Mechanic reported a B757-200 aircraft's Nose Wheel Steering Tiller that would not center after landing. A rudder pedal steering Interconnect (input) rod was found disconnected.

Narrative: In February I was notified that there was going to be an investigation of an occurrence on a B757-200 aircraft; after landing; [when] the Nose Wheel Steering Tiller (handle) would not center when released. When [steering] input selected; Tiller stays in that position and will not return to Zero (0) index; [noted on] log page by pilot. I; as an Inspector; had been involved in the rigging of this system during a recent Heavy (8-C) Check. I and the Technician that worked on this system were told that a rod for the Rudder Interconnect had been found disconnected; item of detail in Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 32-51-00-835. This rod had been reconnected during our testing and the bolt and a self-locking nut was reinstalled during the work accomplished that I witnessed during the Heavy Check in January. The Nose Steering Cables in the left wheel well tunnel were adjusted and re-safetied per AMM 32-51-00; Step 'E'. Also the Rudder Interconnect rod was reinstalled per the [same] AMM procedures.The Nose Wheel Steering was checked per Work Cards. AMM 32-51-00 was used to comply with this work step and the Nose Wheel Steering Function as required. The Technician and I signed-off the Work Card Step. [With] my Quality Control (QC) stamp number being XXX; I was the last Inspector to see this process. I climbed into the left wheel well tunnel thru the Electronic Equipment (E/E) door to see that the steering cables were safetied. After exiting the E/E; I climbed a ladder to see that the rig pins and that the Rudder Interconnect rod; Item # 20; was installed and secured. [Again] in January; this rod was secured. Also the Nose Steering Cables were safetied and the Nose Wheel Steering functioned per the Work Card and the AMM. The Technician that corrected (signed-off) the pilot's log page [stated] that he performed rigging of the Nose Wheel Steering (NWS) System reference AMM 32-51-00 and all Operational Checks and Rig had checked good at that time. The aircraft was out of service for a few hours and is back in service. This is the events as I saw them on that day.A red streamer will be attached to any rods that are removed in the future and a Non-Routine [Write-up] will be written upon their removal; only to be signed-off after they are reconnected. Also; I will from this day forward use Torque Seal on all bolts and nuts that are reinstalled. All Maintenance will be documented on non-routines and work cards.

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.