Air carrier lead crew chief reported bird strike inspection found both engines sustained damage. Reporter stated the mechanics were under pressure to accomplish work on the aircraft

Date: 2025-10 · Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|no-specific-anomaly-occurred-unwanted-situation

Synopsis

Air carrier lead crew chief reported bird strike inspection found both engines sustained damage. Reporter stated the mechanics were under pressure to accomplish work on the aircraft

Narrative

AIRCRAFT X - So event started as aircraft arrived at XA:45 and inbound crew didn't report bird strikes inbound. Outbound crew reported finding a radome hit on preflight walk around around XB:00/XC:15 and techs were sent out and notified CC (Crew Chief) @ XD:40 that both engines had evidence of bird ingestion in both engines aircraft put in AOS (Aircraft out of Service) status @ XE:45. Notified by management that they will notify us if aircraft will be given to a hanger crew or if we will work it so CC removed techs off aircraft pending managements directive. notified around XF:00 prior to management crew brief that we will stay assigned to Aircraft X. Meeting lasted till XG:45 and crew was sent out to aircraft but we were not notified aircraft was moved to fence X so techs went to fence X to continue with initial bird strike inspection and start working managements previous directive of ( Aircraft checks and inbounds) 3 people were assigned initially and 6 more were assigned to another aircraft but once finished with other aircraft they went over to Aircraft X @ fence X was approached by management to look at the engines and verify/ confirm the bird strike ingestion. Due to managements request of updating apc with techs assignments on every item and task given verbally last week by same management on shift CC was not able to leave desk till XH:45. arrived at A/C as well as manager Person A. Who immediately was irate at the progress giving questions that I just arrived to confirm. We approached the aircraft as Person A was asking where are the bird strikes to where this is the first time CC witness's the engines in question and upon initial look verified immediately bird strike on root of fan blade and residue in booster stage agreed upon with Person A . While heading to #2 engine Person A was asking questions in a loud irate/angered manner regarding why techs are taking long why are the engines not butterflied and explained a/c was moved our meeting took long and figuring out with inspection what card they used as this is the crews 1st 737 core ingestion requiring borescope. Asking why no a/c cart or hose was used while plane was at the gate and explained again about the misunderstanding by management and a/c move and meeting. at XI:05 techs mentioned they were heading to the other side to take their lunch period closed up the aircraft per Procedures Manual as 737 does not have auto fire suppression and tsa policy req's the aircraft not be left unattended with stairs. During the XJ:30 production meeting Person A was hostile on the update on Aircraft X explaining that why the techs left at XH:00 and that they were ' on his time' I did not acknowledge that statement . Pressure to rush work increased after the call with constant request for updates and @ XK:15 was informed inspection arrived and questioned the workcard given to them that they can work off the AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual) quicker to expedite the inspection and the mechanics confirmed with CC and I updated Person B as he was next to memore pressure was added as management changed their mind extended the etr (Estimated Time of Repair) to XL:00 and requested all items found during the transit check ( 3 MWA and 2 nose tires and several interior items) be fixed which crew chief had informed his 7 mechs about the update as management requested 2 stay back to work the wake up checklist on Aircraft Y and finish up their paperwork on Aircraft Z. This seemed retaliatory but the constant interruptions and changes are causing confusion / pressure / stress and uneeded hostility due to micro management coming from above. F crew is set up for failure with managements expectation of obtaining 8.5 hours of RON (Routine Overnight) work out of them when last bird out and first birds in @XK:00. Managements constant push harassment threats towards performance counseling's when they only allow for very little set up time or account for movement between aircraft / tooling isadding stress and pressure let alone the constant bird dogging or second guessing is interrupting mechanics and presents a safety risk let alone violation of company code of conduct with constant hostile / verbal abuse toward several CC's on meetings. The growing pains of the station are to much now time isnt being properly tracked on inbound items in safe and those hours are not applied to work accomplished management is pushing more work than manpower is available threatening by way of punitive discipline as several crew chiefs have submitted reports and ethics complaints. Safety should always be priority as company's constant speech and read and signs. Cause: dictating maintenance / micro managing / pressure / lack of knowledge on part of management on proper time management and to high of expectations without consideration for safety only production metrics . Suggestions: management be retrained with leadership course in ZZZ and re review of company code of conduct as well as critical behaviors and for accountability and company standards be followed not ignored for production metric goals

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