A DC8-63 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH #3 ENG LOW PRESSURE STATOR VANE DAMAGE NOT RPTED OR DOCUMENTED.

Narrative

ACFT XYZ ARRIVED IN ZZZ AT XA40. I WAS CARRYING CARGO -- SCHEDULED DEP TIME WAS XC30. A CARGO DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE. AS A LINE MECH ASSIGNED TO THIS STATION; I PERFORMED A POSTFLT WALKAROUND ON THE AIRPLANE. ON VISUALLY CHKING THE #3 ENG; I NOTICED A SMALL NICK IN ONE OF THE TURBINE STATOR VANES AT APPROX THE 10 O'CLOCK POS. THIS WAS THE LAST ROW OF STATOR VANES; JUST FORWARD OF THE MOST AFT TURBINE WHEEL. THE TURBINE BLADES WERE NOT DAMAGED. I LOOKED IN THE INLET OF THE ENG FOR EVIDENCE OF FOD. NONE WAS FOUND. I CONTINUED THE WALKAROUND. THE ENG CTRLINE WAS APPROX 6 FT AGL. THE PARKING SPOT WAS UNLIT. I WAS USING A 2 CELL D BATTERY FLASHLIGHT. AFTER SEEING NO EVIDENCE OF FOD IN THE INLET OR DAMAGE TO THE TURBINE BLADES; I ASSUMED THE STATOR DAMAGE WAS INCONSEQUENTIAL. THE FLC HAD RPTED NO ABNORMAL OPERATING INDICATIONS OF THE #3 ENG; SUCH AS HIGH EGT OR HIGH FUEL FLOW. MY DECISION WAS QUICK. I HAD OTHER TASKS TO PERFORM AND GIVEN PREVIOUS EVENTS; I WAS NOT MOTIVATED TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE CREW DID WRITE UP AN EPR PROB ON #4 ENG. I APPLIED THE MEL TO THIS. THE LOWER BEACON LIGHT WAS ON MEL. I CORRECTED THAT DISCREPANCY. THE #1 ENG THRUST REVERSER WAS ALSO ON MEL AND WAS LOCKED OUT FOR FLT. I TROUBLESHOT THIS PROB. ACFT XYZ LEFT ZZZ FOR XAB. UPON ARR THERE; MAINT FOUND A GOOD DEAL OF DAMAGE TO THE STATOR SECTION ON #3 ENG. I DID CALL AHEAD TO THEM AND TOLD THEM WHAT I SAW. THERE WAS STILL NO FLC RPT AND THE TURBINE BLADES WERE STILL UNDAMAGED. THE FLT WAS ROUTINE AND WITHOUT INCIDENT. XAB MAINT DECIDED AN ENG CHANGE WAS IN ORDER.