Narrative:

February 2011; flight yy; ZZZ to ZZZ1; a B757-200 aircraft. In cruise; I attempted to don full face oxygen mask. Mask headband would not inflate due to air leak in band. Immediately swapped first observer's mask into captain's position. Initiated high frequency (HF) phone patch to dispatch in order to give maintenance as much early warning as possible. Was advised by dispatcher that a replacement full face oxygen mask was available in ZZZ. Continued to ZZZ1. [Made log write-up]; see log page XXX48. This log page states that the defective mask was replaced. 'Ops (operational) checked good'. February 2011; [one day later]; flight XXX; ZZZ1 to ZZZ; same B757-200 aircraft; departed at xa:51pm local time. In cruise I attempted to don full face oxygen mask. Mask headband would not inflate due to air leak in band. Immediately swapped first observer's mask into captain's position. Tested ok. Checked smoke goggle fit. Continued to ZZZ. When in VHF range sent early alert via ACARS detailing the history and situation. See logpage XXX54. That mask could not have 'ops checked good' because ZZZ1 maintenance had reinstalled the same defective mask back into the captain's position. At top of descent called ZZZ maintenance requesting maintenance supervisor meet aircraft. From my perspective I see falsification of [maintenance] records; let alone the fact that my safety and that of my crew; passengers; and aircraft were jeopardized. Through conversation with maintenance control; I have learned that early maintenance alerts many times are not even looked at due to the availability of [contract] maintenance in ZZZ1. It would appear that our air carrier maintenance department needs to thoroughly scrutinize the maintenance subcontractor in ZZZ1. I have been with company for 27-plus years. I have operated our B-757s for 23-plus years. I am now reverting to the tried and true method of completely removing the oxygen mask from the stowage box during my preflight inspection.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 Pilot reports a Maintenance Sub-contractor had reinstalled the same malfunctioning Captain's position Oxygen Mask he had written up that had an leak in the inflatable headband. The Contract Mechanic signed-off his Logbook write-up as 'Operational (OPS) checked OK'. Pilot also notes the preflight 'Press to Test' Crew Oxygen Mask Check does not indicate a malfunctioning harness.

Narrative: February 2011; Flight YY; ZZZ to ZZZ1; a B757-200 aircraft. In cruise; I attempted to don full face oxygen mask. Mask headband would not inflate due to air leak in band. Immediately swapped First Observer's mask into Captain's position. Initiated High Frequency (HF) phone patch to Dispatch in order to give Maintenance as much early warning as possible. Was advised by Dispatcher that a replacement full face oxygen mask was available in ZZZ. Continued to ZZZ1. [Made Log write-up]; see Log page XXX48. This Log page states that the defective mask was REPLACED. 'Ops (Operational) checked good'. February 2011; [one day later]; Flight XXX; ZZZ1 to ZZZ; same B757-200 aircraft; departed at XA:51pm local time. In cruise I attempted to don full face oxygen mask. Mask headband would not inflate due to air leak in band. Immediately swapped First Observer's mask into Captain's position. Tested OK. Checked smoke goggle fit. Continued to ZZZ. When in VHF range sent early alert via ACARS detailing the history and situation. See Logpage XXX54. That mask could not have 'Ops checked good' because ZZZ1 Maintenance had reinstalled the same defective mask back into the Captain's position. At top of descent called ZZZ Maintenance requesting Maintenance Supervisor meet aircraft. From my perspective I see falsification of [Maintenance] records; let alone the fact that my safety and that of my crew; passengers; and aircraft were jeopardized. Through conversation with Maintenance Control; I have learned that early maintenance alerts many times are not even looked at due to the availability of [Contract] Maintenance in ZZZ1. It would appear that our Air Carrier Maintenance Department needs to thoroughly scrutinize the Maintenance subcontractor in ZZZ1. I have been with company for 27-plus years. I have operated our B-757s for 23-plus years. I am now reverting to the tried and true method of completely removing the oxygen mask from the stowage box during my preflight inspection.

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.