A B767-200 WITH RPT OF RUDDER RATIO WARNING WAS ASSIGNED TO BE WORKED BY AN UNTRAINED AND INCOMPETENT MECH.
Synopsis
A B767-200 WITH RPT OF RUDDER RATIO WARNING WAS ASSIGNED TO BE WORKED BY AN UNTRAINED AND INCOMPETENT MECH.
Narrative
IN SUM: A B767-200 ARRIVED AT ZZZ WITH A WRITE-UP FOR THE RUDDER RATIO AND AILERON LOCKOUT PROBS. THE RADIO-ELECTRIC MECH SAID THE AIR DATA COMPUTER MAY BE BAD. THE RADIO-ELECTRIC MECH REPLACED THE AIR DATA COMPUTER. HE THEN FUMBLED AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A PITOT-STATIC CHK FOR LEAKAGE. THE SUPVR GOT ANGRY AND MADE THE RADIO-ELECTRIC MECH SIGN OFF THE RPT. AFTER TKOF THE FLT LOST ALL AIR DATA INPUT TO THE FO'S SIDE WHICH HAD THE AIR DATA COMPUTER REPLACED. I WAS THE GATE MECH THAT DAY AND KNEW THAT THE RADIO-ELECTRIC MECH DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE AND THAT A PITOT-STATIC CHK WAS NEEDED. I WAS ORDERED BY THE SUPVR TO DO THE MAINT RELEASE; I REFUSED AND WAS THREATENED. SO I DID IT. THIS ACFT SHOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT ZZZ. THIS WAS A COMPLETE TRAVESTY AND THE FLT WAS DISPATCHED ONLY BECAUSE THE SUPVR DID NOT WANT TO PROLONG THE DELAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS ASSIGNED AS THE GATE MECH WHEN THE ACFT ARRIVED WITH A LOG RPT OF RUDDER RATIO AND AILERON LOCKOUT WARNING PROBS. THE RADIO-ELECTRIC MECH ASSIGNED TO THE JOB WAS AT BEST INCOMPETENT. THIS MECH HAS A HISTORY OF BOTCHING MOST JOBS WORKED. HAS HAD NUMEROUS FAA AND COMPANY INCIDENTS FOR BOTH SAFETY AND MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. THE MAJOR PROB IS NO ONE WILL WORK WITH OR ASSIST THIS INDIVIDUAL FOR FEAR OF PUTTING THEIR LICENSE AT RISK. HE REPLACED THE AIR DATA COMPUTER; BUT NEVER LEAK CHKED THE SYS. RPTR ONLY SIGNED OFF THE MAINT RELEASE BECAUSE OF THE THREATS BY THE SUPVR. MGMNT WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS SIT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 353109 IN SUM: MY RPT IS ACFT MAINT PERFORMED BY A MECH (MYSELF) THAT DOES NOT FEEL QUALIFIED AND HAS NO COMPANY TRAINING. I HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION IF I REFUSE TO WORK ON QUICK TURN ACFT AT THE TERMINAL ON WHICH I AM NOT FAMILIAR. A GOOD EXAMPLE WAS A B767 WITH A RUDDER RATIO MESSAGE ON THE EICAS DISPLAY. THE AIRPLANE CAUSED A DELAY WHILE I TRIED TO LOOK UP INFO IN THE MAINT MANUAL. I HAD REPLACED AN AIR DATA COMPUTER WHICH TESTED OK. THE CREW WROTE IT UP AGAIN AFTER TKOF. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR THE COMPANY WOULD BE TO ENSURE THE MECHS ARE PROPERLY TRAINED.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.