A REPAIR STATION REPORTS DOING EDDY CURRENT AND MAGNAFLUX NON DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTIONS ON LANDING GEAR WHEELS WITHOUT HAVING A FAA NON DESTRUCTIVE CERTIFICATE.

Narrative

IN APR/98 OUR REPAIR STATION BOUGHT AN EDDY CURRENT MACHINE AND SEVERAL TECHNICIANS RECEIVED 40 HRS OF TRAINING FROM A LEVEL III INSTRUCTOR. ALL TECHNICIANS SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED THE TRAINING PROGRAM. WE THEN STARTED INSPECTING LNDG GEAR WHEELS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S MANUALS. THIS WORK WAS DONE BOTH UNDER THE REPAIR STATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL'S A&P CERTIFICATES. OUR FAA PRIMARY MAINT INSPECTOR WAS AWARE OF THIS BUT NOTHING WAS EVER SAID. IN MAR/00 OUR REPAIR STATION PURCHASED MAGNAFLUX INSPECTION EQUIP AND OUR TECHNICIANS RECEIVED 24 HRS OF TRAINING FROM A LEVEL III INSTRUCTOR. WE INVITED OUR PRIMARY MAINT INSPECTOR TO ATTEND THE TRAINING BUT HE DECLINED. WE STARTED PERFORMING MAGNAFLUX INSPECTIONS ON LNDG GEAR WHEEL THROUGH-BOLTS WITHOUT GETTING AN NDI RATING FOR THE REPAIR STATION. OUR PRIMARY MAINT INSPECTOR HAS RETIRED AND WE HAVE HAD 3 OTHERS SINCE; BUT NONE HAVE NOTICED WE LACK THE RATING. I AM USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMEDY THE PROB. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE REPAIR SHOP NOW HAS THE NON DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION CERTIFICATE. THE RPTR SAID HE MADE A SELF-DISCLOSURE TO THE LCL FSDO AND AFTER A SHOP INSPECTION; THE CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED. THE RPTR SAID SEVERAL OPINIONS WERE GIVEN BY VARIOUS FAA SAFETY INSPECTORS ON THE NECESSITY FOR THE CERTIFICATE. THE RPTR STATED THE FAA WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR INSPECTION AND APPROVING WHEELS AND THROUGH-BOLTS WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATE AS THE INSPECTIONS WERE ACCOMPLISHED BY TRAINED TECHNICIANS USING THE MANUFACTURER'S MANUALS. 502156 SYN