A320 ACFT UNDERGOING HVY MAINT ARE NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTING ELECTRONIC UNITS AND WIRING LOCATED UNDER THE CABIN FLOOR FROM DRILL SHAVINGS AND METAL GRINDING DUST.
Synopsis
A320 ACFT UNDERGOING HVY MAINT ARE NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTING ELECTRONIC UNITS AND WIRING LOCATED UNDER THE CABIN FLOOR FROM DRILL SHAVINGS AND METAL GRINDING DUST.
Narrative
GRINDING OF SEAT TRACKS FOR CORROSION AND GRINDING DEBRIS FALLING ONTO AND INTO WIRING BUNDLES AND COMPUTERS. CHAPTER XX STATES WIRING IS FLT CABLES; DUE TO COMPUTERS TALK TO EACH OTHER. ACFT XYZ THROUGH XZZ HAS HAD SAME PROB. WE HAVE MADE MANY WRITE-UPS DEALING WITH DEBRIS PROB. (WIRE CHAFING FROM DEBRIS.) MGMNT HAS TURNED A DEAF EAR TO PROB. MY CONCERN IS THAT AN A320 OR A319 WILL CRASH OR HAVE FLT CTL PROBS DUE TO THIS LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT DEBRIS IN WIRE BUNDLES. THE A320/319 MAINT MANUAL POINTS OUT THAT THE FLT CTL CABLES ARE WIRES. ALL MAINT COMPANIES NEED TO THINK AIRBUS; NOT BOEING TYPE MAINT BEFORE FLY-BY-WIRE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED A REAL CONCERN OVER THE DRILL SHAVINGS AND GRINDING DUST ACCUMULATING IN THE WIRE BUNDLES AND ELECTRONIC UNITS IN THE ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL BAYS. THE RPTR SAID THERE ARE PROCS IN THE GENERAL MAINT MANUAL THAT IF FOLLOWED WOULD PROTECT THESE CRITICAL UNITS AND WIRING. THE RPTR STATED THE WIRING HAS EXTREMELY THIN INSULATION AND CAN BE NICKED WITH A THUMB NAIL. THE RPTR SAID THIS IS A 'FLY BY WIRE ACFT' AND THE LAST THING NEEDED IS WIRING DAMAGE. THE RPTR STATED THE CLEANUP IS THE LAST JOB ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE RELEASING THE ACFT AND THE FOREMEN ARE IGNORING THE WRITE-UPS MADE BY INSPECTORS IN ORDER TO GET AN EARLY ACFT RELEASE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.