A DHC8 was dispatched in non compliance with modified trailing edge flap fittings mounted on an unmodified flap.
Synopsis
A DHC8 was dispatched in non compliance with modified trailing edge flap fittings mounted on an unmodified flap.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
Improper hardware installed at a flap track carriage assembly fail safe mounts to flap. A fail safe strap was found cracked. Flap was removed. Strap was repaired and returned and flap was reinstalled. Original hardware for fail safes needed replacement.
Illustrated parts catalog showed hardware for only a post-modification installation. We had a pre-modification flap. Pre- and post-hardware were combined since no reference was available for pre-modification installation. The manufacturer deleted the pre-modification hardware from last revision of the parts catalog.
Due to pressure from management, the incorrect hardware remained installed and the aircraft was released for revenue service.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
IMPROPER HARDWARE INSTALLED AT A FLAP TRACK CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY FAIL SAFE MOUNTS TO FLAP. A FAIL SAFE STRAP WAS FOUND CRACKED. FLAP WAS REMOVED. STRAP WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED AND FLAP WAS REINSTALLED. ORIGINAL HARDWARE FOR FAIL SAFES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ILLUSTRATED PARTS CATALOG SHOWED HARDWARE FOR ONLY A POST-MODIFICATION INSTALLATION. WE HAD A PRE-MODIFICATION FLAP. PRE- AND POST-HARDWARE WERE COMBINED SINCE NO REF WAS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-MODIFICATION INSTALLATION. THE MANUFACTURER DELETED THE PRE-MODIFICATION HARDWARE FROM LAST REVISION OF THE PARTS CATALOG. DUE TO PRESSURE FROM MGMNT; THE INCORRECT HARDWARE REMAINED INSTALLED AND THE ACFT WAS RELEASED FOR REVENUE SVC.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.