A B737 STRUCTURE'S ENGINEER ALLEGES UPPER MGMNT KNOWINGLY CHANGED THE MANUFACTURER'S REQUIREMENT FOR A NON DESTRUCTIVE TEST ON SKIN DAMAGE.

Narrative

ON JUN/FRI/00; ENGINEERING SUBMITTED A MEMO TO ACR; 'PRESSURIZED FUSELAGE LIGHTNING STRIKE DAMAGE REPAIR -- REQUIREMENT FOR NDT INSPECTION;' REQUESTING DEFERMENT OF THE NDT PART 6; SECTION 51-00-00 FIGURE 3 INSPECTION FOR 24 HRS TO ALLOW CONTINUED REVENUE SVC. ON JUN/FRI/01; BOEING RAPID RESPONSE REPLIED TO ACR STATING: 1) ACR CAN DELETE THE B737-700 SRM 53-00-01 REPAIR 13 REQUIREMENT TO ACCOMPLISH NDT INSPECTIONS IF THE DAMAGE IS LESS THAN 0.3125 INCH IN DIAMETER AND ADHERES TO THE FOLLOWING: A) IN THE CASE WHERE THE DAMAGE IS A SMALL BURN MARK OR PIT; INSTALLATION OF A RIVET PER THE B737-700 SRM 53-00-01 REPAIR 13; PARAGRAPH 4C IS CONSIDERED STRUCTURALLY SATISFACTORY. B) IN THE CASE WHERE THE DAMAGE IS ON THE SURFACE; THE DAMAGE CAN BE BLENDED OUT FOLLOWING THE SRM BLEND-OUT GUIDELINES. INSTALL A RIVET PER B737-700 SRM 53-00-01 REPAIR 13; PARAGRAPH 4C IF ALLOWABLE DAMAGE REMOVAL LIMITS ARE EXCEEDED. 2) IF THE DAMAGE EXCEEDS 0.3125 INCH DIAMETER OF IF THERE IS DISCOLORATION IN THE PAINT; THE B737-700 SRM 53-00-01 REPAIR 13 NDT INSPECTION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR A SRM CUTOUT REPAIR ACCOMPLISHED. ON OCT/MON/01; I AM SUBMITTING DEPICTING THE FOLLOWING ERRORS: 1) ACR ENGINEERING KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY REMOVED THE STATEMENT REGARDING; 'IF THERE IS DISCOLORATION IN THE PAINT; THE B737-700 SRM 53-00-01 REPAIR 13 NDT INSPECTION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR A SRM CUTOUT REPAIR ACCOMPLISHED.' 2) THE B737-700; 300; 500; AND 200 ARE VERY CLR THAT AN NDT CONDUCTIVITY INSPECTION MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE REF B737-700 SRM 53-00-01-2 REPAIR 13; PARAGRAPH 4.A.(1)(A); B737-300/500 SRM 53-00-01-3 FIGURE 219; PARAGRAPH 1. THE DYE PENETRATE INSPECTION IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE TO A CONDUCTIVITY TEST THAT DETERMINES A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN HEAT TREATMENT. THE DYE PENETRATION EXAMINATION USES THE LIQUID TO GO INTO A DEFECT THAT IS OPEN AT THE SURFACE OF THE PART; IE; CRACKS. THE B737-700 SRM 53-00-01-2 REPAIR 13; PARAGRAPH 4B(1)(B)(2) ALLOWS FOR THE DYE PENETRATION; AS AN ALTERNATIVE INSPECTION ON THE OUTER SKIN AFTER DAMAGE REMOVAL NOT TO DETERMINE EXTENT OF DAMAGE AS THE RA IMPLIES. THE B737-300/500 SRM STATES THE SAME REF B737-300/500 SRM 53-00-01-3 FIGURE 219; PARAGRAPH 2(B).