While performing maintenance in the forward cargo compartment of a B767-300 aircraft; a line mechani...

Narrative:

I worked the cargo compartment on aircraft X; a B767-300; september 2011. The recirculation [fan] filter compartment is located behind the aft wall of the forward cargo compartment. Each filter box assembly had one broken support rod; illustrated parts catalog (ipc) 21-25-01-04). The right-hand (right/H) support rod was cracked in two; while the left-hand (left/H) support rod was bent and creased. These support rods are are not stocked at ZZZ. According to ipc 21-25-01; this company part number (cpn) is applicable for all 767-300ERs. When we attempted to rob the part from aircraft Y; another B767; those support rods were also found bent and creased. Maintenance manual (MM) 21-25-05 allows limited damage to the support rods. These [damage] limits state creases are not to exceed more than 1/4 the outside diameter (od) of the rod. All four support rods on aircraft X and Y exceeded these limits. A bent rod was removed from aircraft Y to replace the cracked rod on aircraft X and an engineering authorization (ea) issued to defer this [bent rod] condition [that was installed] on aircraft X. Two new rods were ordered for aircraft Y. The B767-300 only has a nylon curtain separating the recirculation filter compartment from the forward cargo compartment. These airplanes were probably damaged by bulging [cargo] pallets slammed against the nylon curtain. Therefore; a substantial number of the B767-300 fleet probably has similar damage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: While performing maintenance in the Forward Cargo Compartment of a B767-300 aircraft; a Line Mechanic discovered bent and broken support rods for the left and right Recirculation Fan Filter Box Assemblies. Only a nylon curtain separates the filter compartment from the forward cargo pallets.

Narrative: I worked the cargo compartment on Aircraft X; a B767-300; September 2011. The Recirculation [Fan] Filter Compartment is located behind the aft wall of the Forward Cargo Compartment. Each Filter Box Assembly had one broken support rod; Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) 21-25-01-04). The Right-Hand (R/H) support rod was cracked in two; while the Left-Hand (L/H) support rod was bent and creased. These support rods are are not stocked at ZZZ. According to IPC 21-25-01; this Company Part Number (CPN) is applicable for all 767-300ERs. When we attempted to rob the part from Aircraft Y; another B767; those support rods were also found bent and creased. Maintenance Manual (MM) 21-25-05 allows limited damage to the support rods. These [damage] limits state creases are not to exceed more than 1/4 the Outside Diameter (OD) of the rod. All four support rods on Aircraft X and Y exceeded these limits. A bent rod was removed from Aircraft Y to replace the cracked rod on Aircraft X and an Engineering Authorization (EA) issued to defer this [bent rod] condition [that was installed] on Aircraft X. Two new rods were ordered for Aircraft Y. The B767-300 only has a nylon curtain separating the Recirculation Filter Compartment from the Forward Cargo Compartment. These airplanes were probably damaged by bulging [cargo] pallets slammed against the nylon curtain. Therefore; a substantial number of the B767-300 fleet probably has similar damage.

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.

Attributes
ACN	969341
Time
Date	201109
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Component
Aircraft Component	Air Conditioning Distribution System
Person 1
Function	Technician
Qualification	Maintenance Airframe Maintenance Powerplant
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

While performing maintenance in the forward cargo compartment of a B767-300 aircraft; a line mechanic discovered bent and broken support rods for the left and right recirculation fan filter box assemblies. Only a nylon curtain separates the filter compartment from the forward cargo pallets.