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EC145 helicopter pilot noted what appears to be a company policy to delay documentation of certain aircraft discrepanies until parts become available to effect repairs.

Narrative:

Two maintenance items were identified with a medical helicopter. First; the mast moment indicator (mmi) started to lag behind the actual cyclic inputs. Second; the rotor brake was losing its effectiveness.... I noted the same problems with the mmi and the rotor brake I had observed during my previous duty week. When we returned to our base; I asked about both the peculiar indications on the mmi and the effectiveness of the rotor brake.... I then asked how it was possible that [maintenance] could know about the mmi and the rotor brake and that no one had made note of the discrepancies in the daily maintenance record. [Maintenance] replied something to the effect that we can't write up everything.... The discrepancies were noted and corrective actions were performed on [a certain date] so that tells us that something was; in fact; deficient with both items. The daily maintenance record does not reflect reality because it indicates the discrepancies were identified for the first time on that date; when every pilot and mechanic knows that is not the case.... There is a safety culture problem at some bases where the front line mechanics tend to postpone and/or improperly defer maintenance issues until such time as the parts and/or tools required for the repair are on hand. In most cases; the discrepancies/irregularities are not documented in the daily maintenance record until such time as the mechanics make the repair.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EC145 helicopter pilot noted what appears to be a company policy to delay documentation of certain aircraft discrepanies until parts become available to effect repairs.

Narrative: Two maintenance items were identified with a medical helicopter. First; the Mast Moment Indicator (MMI) started to lag behind the actual cyclic inputs. Second; the rotor brake was losing its effectiveness.... I noted the same problems with the MMI and the rotor brake I had observed during my previous duty week. When we returned to our base; I asked about both the peculiar indications on the MMI and the effectiveness of the rotor brake.... I then asked how it was possible that [Maintenance] could know about the MMI and the rotor brake and that no one had made note of the discrepancies in the Daily Maintenance Record. [Maintenance] replied something to the effect that we can't write up everything.... The discrepancies were noted and corrective actions were performed on [a certain date] so that tells us that something was; in fact; deficient with both items. The Daily Maintenance Record does not reflect reality because it indicates the discrepancies were identified for the first time on that date; when every pilot and mechanic knows that is not the case.... There is a safety culture problem at some bases where the front line mechanics tend to postpone and/or improperly defer maintenance issues until such time as the parts and/or tools required for the repair are on hand. In most cases; the discrepancies/irregularities are not documented in the Daily Maintenance Record until such time as the mechanics make the repair.

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.