AN ACR'S MAINT PROC BROKE DOWN ALLOWING AN ACFT TO FLY WITHOUT AN INSPECTION AND FLT TEST.

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THIS IS IN REF TO WDB UPPER L LATERAL CENTERING CTL ACTUATOR CHANGE ON MAR/SUN/93 AT ACR MAINT FACILITY IN SFO. THIS ACFT WAS RELEASED FROM MAINT WITHOUT THE NOTIFICATION OF INSPECTION FOR WHICH I FEEL IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT MAINT MANUALS DEPICTING INSPECTION REQUIREMENT. THIS ACFT ALSO DID NOT HAVE A FLT TEST; WHICH IS MAINT SUPERVISION'S RESPONSIBILITY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: THE RPTING MECH FOR A MAJOR ACR CHANGED THE LATERAL CENTERING CTL ACTUATOR (LCCA) ON A WDB PER THE PROCS LISTED IN THE MAINT MANUAL. FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IN ITS MANUAL; THERE IS NO MENTION OF A HIGHER INSPECTION REQUIRED OR A FLT TEST; ALTHOUGH BOTH ARE GENERALLY AGREED TO BE REQUIRED WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE TO A FLT CTL ITEM. 4 EMPLOYEES; INCLUDING THE RPTR'S PARTNER AND SUPVR; MISSED THE FACT THAT THIS CHANGE REQUIRED AN INSPECTION BY THE QUALITY CTL DEPT. THE ACFT FLEW 2 TRANS CONTINENTAL TRIPS BEFORE SOMEONE WOKE UP TO THE FACT THAT AN INSPECTION WAS REQUIRED. AN INSPECTION WAS MADE AT LAX WHERE A COMPANY INSPECTOR FOUND 6 DISCREPANCIES IN THE WHEEL WELL; MOST OF WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LATERAL CENTERING CTL ACTUATOR. THE RPTR STATES THAT THE FAA IS ON HIS EMPLOYER ABOUT THIS INCIDENT; AND HIS EMPLOYER IS PASSING ALL OF THE BLAME DOWN TO HIM. THE RPTR BELIEVES THAT THE MAINT MANUALS; AND ESPECIALLY THE 'REQUIRED INSPECTION ITEM' LIST SHOULD BE CHANGED TO PREVENT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN.