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A line captain raises concerns about the use and effects of specific type I de-icing fluid on numerous B737-800 aircraft and the deterioration of their rudder balance weights. Also noted was their company practice of deferring eroded and corroded balance weights under a non-essential function (nef) deferral; instead of a regular MEL deferral for a flight control surface.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 948361 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201105 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Rudder |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Military 2 Air Traffic Control Non Radar 2 Air Traffic Control Supervisory 2 Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210 Flight Crew Total 14000 Flight Crew Type 8000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Maintenance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
B737-800 aircraft [rudder] balance arm weight did not have any paint on it. The repair deferral was listed in the summary sheet of the aircraft logbook. The repair authorization was listed as 'nef' (non-essential fixture) [function]. The raw material of this rudder flight control [balance weight] was delaminating. Pilot ordered to fly.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Line Captain raises concerns about the use and effects of specific Type I de-icing fluid on numerous B737-800 aircraft and the deterioration of their rudder balance weights. Also noted was their company practice of deferring eroded and corroded balance weights under a Non-Essential Function (NEF) deferral; instead of a regular MEL deferral for a flight control surface.
Narrative: B737-800 aircraft [Rudder] Balance Arm weight did not have any paint on it. The repair deferral was listed in the summary sheet of the aircraft Logbook. The repair authorization was listed as 'NEF' (Non-Essential fixture) [Function]. The raw material of this Rudder Flight Control [balance weight] was delaminating. Pilot ordered to fly.
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.