FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE TO ENG COWLING ON MLG NOTED AFTER FO HAD COMPLETED A WALKAROUND.

Date: 1991-10 · Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-other-unknown|other-unspecified

Synopsis

FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE TO ENG COWLING ON MLG NOTED AFTER FO HAD COMPLETED A WALKAROUND.

Narrative

AFTER THE ACFT ARRIVED AT THE GATE AT NEW ORLEANS; I; THE FO DID AN EXTERIOR WALKAROUND BUT MISSED FOD DAMAGE TO THE L ENG WHEN A HOSE CLAMP WAS APPARENTLY KICKED UP BY THE MAIN GEAR AND HIT THE EXTERIOR COWLING. PUTTING A SMALL HOLE; 1/4 INCH DIAMETER; AND ATTACHING TO THE COWLING. THERE HAD BEEN A RPT OF SMOKE COMING FROM 1 OF THE ENGS ON SHUTDOWN SO I INSPECTED BOTH ENGS FOR LEAKS FORE AND AFT; IN THE PYLON AREA. BUT EVEN THOUGH BOTH ENGS WERE INSPECTED BY ME; THE FOD WAS MISSED. MAINT WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE SMOKE AND THEY ADVISED ME THEY WOULD OPEN THE COWLING AND TAKE A LOOK. AN FAA INSPECTOR WAS ON HAND AND HAD ALSO SEEN THE SMOKE. IT WAS AFTER MY PREFLT INSPECTION THAT THE DAMAGE WAS FOUND ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SMOKE AT SHUTDOWN. THE ACFT WAS THEN TURNED OVER TO MAINT TO FIX THE HOLE IN THE COWLING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO FOD ON RWY OR TAXIWAY AND I FAILED TO DETECT IT ON MY EXTERIOR PREFLT. TO PREVENT A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE; MAYBE TAKING A LITTLE MORE TIME ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO LOOK AT EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE ACFT AND ITEMS CAN BE MISSED. CRITICAL AREAS SUCH AS GEAR; ENGS; DOORS; ETC WILL CERTAINLY GET MORE OF MY ATTN ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE IMPORTANT.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.