B737-400 FO FOUND FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE TO L ENG. DAMAGE NOT FOUND ON OVERNIGHT LAYOVER CHK.

Narrative

AT APPROX XA30 HRS; AUG/XX/96; I WAS PERFORMING AN OVERNIGHT CHK ON ACFT. AS I STARTED TO INSPECT THE INLET OF #1 ENG NOSE COWL; INLET PROBES; NOSE SPINNER; AND STARTED TO INSPECT THE FAN BLADES AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POS WHEN ANOTHER MECH DROVE UP IN THE PLATFORM LIFT TRUCK AND ADVISED ME 'IF YOU WANT TO USE THE LIFT TRUCK; USE IT NOW; THE PEOPLE ON THE 'A' CHK WANT TO USE IT.' I STOPPED MY INSPECTION OF THE #1 ENG TO USE THE LIFT TRUCK TO CHK APU OIL AND CHANGE AN INOP TRAILING EDGE WINGTIP LIGHT. I THEN DROPPED THE LIFT TRUCK OFF AT THE 'A' CHK; AND WAS INFORMED TOOLING FOR MY NOSEWHEEL CHANGE WAS AVAILABLE; I RETURNED TO #1 ENG; HURRIED MY INSPECTION AND OVERLOOKED FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE TO ONE FAN BLADE AT ABOUT THE 3 O'CLOCK POS ON #1 ENG. LIGHTING ALSO PLAYED A FACTOR. THERE IS A LIGHT FOR LIGHTING THE RAMP AREA AT GATE; BUT WITH THE JETWAY PULLED UP TO THE ACFT A SHADOW IS CAST ACROSS THE L INBOARD WING AND THE ENTIRE #1 ENG INLET. THE INSPECTION WAS DONE WITH A 'D' CELL FLASHLIGHT. THE FO FOUND THE DAMAGED FAN BLADE ON HIS PREFLT WALKAROUND IN DAYLIGHT.