 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
During an a-check of a B757-200 aircraft; a line mechanic notices security seals used on the individual cabin life vest compartment doors were the same type of non-breakaway seals used exclusively in lavatories for shrouds and smoke detectors. He had great difficulty removing each vest. The B757 maintenance manual (M/M) chapter 25-62-99 does not specify what type of seal to use.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 945044 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201104 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Lifevest/Jacket |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Technician |
| Qualification | Maintenance Powerplant Maintenance Airframe |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
My assignment april 2011; was to work on a B757-200 aircraft; which was an a-check. I was given the cabin cards along with several engineering orders (east/O) for checking run out dates vs expiration dates on certain emergency equipment. When I got to checking the dates on all of the life vests in business class; of which many were missing the visible dates on the pull tab; I had the most difficult time getting the life vest compartment door to open as designed - by pulling on the red tab - as would a passenger in an overwater landing would do. It turns out the security seals used on the compartment doors were the ones used exclusively in the lavatories (shrouds; smoke detectors; etc). I work mostly wide-body aircraft (B747;B777 and B767) and never had any problems opening any of those business class life vest compartment doors. These wide-bodies use a 'breakaway' design security seal; company part number XXXX; reference maintenance manual (MM) 25-62-05 for the B747-400 and MM chapter 25-62-01 for the B777; the same for the B767. The B757 MM 25-62-99 does not specify what [security] seal to use on task 25-62-99; step 2-A; as a required material (consumable). This is only one aircraft of many; which may all have the same type lavatory security seals installed in business class and first class life vest compartment doors.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: During an A-Check of a B757-200 aircraft; a Line Mechanic notices Security Seals used on the individual cabin Life vest compartment doors were the same type of Non-breakaway seals used exclusively in lavatories for shrouds and smoke detectors. He had great difficulty removing each vest. The B757 Maintenance Manual (M/M) Chapter 25-62-99 does not specify what type of seal to use.
Narrative: My assignment April 2011; was to work on a B757-200 aircraft; which was an A-Check. I was given the Cabin Cards along with several Engineering Orders (E/O) for checking Run Out dates vs Expiration dates on certain emergency equipment. When I got to checking the dates on all of the life vests in Business Class; of which many were missing the visible dates on the pull tab; I had the most difficult time getting the life vest compartment door to open as designed - by pulling on the red tab - as would a passenger in an overwater landing would do. It turns out the Security Seals used on the compartment doors were the ones used exclusively in the lavatories (shrouds; smoke detectors; etc). I work mostly wide-body aircraft (B747;B777 and B767) and never had any problems opening any of those Business Class life vest compartment doors. These wide-bodies use a 'breakaway' design Security Seal; company Part Number XXXX; reference Maintenance Manual (MM) 25-62-05 for the B747-400 and MM Chapter 25-62-01 for the B777; the same for the B767. The B757 MM 25-62-99 does not specify what [Security] Seal to use on Task 25-62-99; Step 2-A; as a required material (consumable). This is only one aircraft of many; which may all have the same type lavatory Security Seals installed in Business Class and First Class life vest compartment doors.
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.