AN AIRBUS 319 TECHNICIAN DISCOVERING FUSELAGE DAMAGE BELOW THE AFT L SVC DOOR; HAS DIFFICULTY WITH AIRBUS MANUALS IN FINDING ALLOWABLE DAMAGE LIMITS.

Narrative

I FOUND THE AFT L FUSELAGE DAMAGED; JUST BELOW AFT L SVC DOOR AROUND FRAME 68 S28L. DURING MY WALKAROUND OF A THROUGH-FLT REQUIRING A DAILY CHK AT GATE; NO ONE IN MY MAINT 4 GROUP (INCLUDING MYSELF) HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH A DENT OR GOUGE ON AN AIRBUS. WE TRIED TO FUMBLE THROUGH MANUALS. I CONTACTED ENGINEERING FOR ASSISTANCE; BURNISHED THE SHARP EDGES; HAD INSPECTION VERIFY 'NO CRACKS.' ENGINEERING INITIALLY SAID THE AREA WAS OUT OF LIMITS; THEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND; HE NOW SAID IT WAS OK. I WASN'T SURE; BUT MY LEAD SAID IT WOULD BE OK. SO I SIGNED IT OFF AS OK AS IS. I TREATED THE AREA; ADDED IT TO DAMAGE FILE; INITIATED ENTRY TO HAVE AREA REINSPECTED IN ABOUT 3000 CYCLES; AND PROGRAMMED IT TO HAVE PRIMER AND TOUCH-UP PAINT APPLIED. AS THE DAY PROGRESSED; I GREW CONCERNED THAT I JUST WASN'T SURE THE DAMAGED AREA WAS OK FOR SVC. I WOULD LIKE TO BE TRAINED IN HOW TO DETERMINE ALLOWABLE DAMAGE ON THE AIRBUS FLEET; AND HOW TO PROPERLY NAV AIRBUS MANUALS. IF I WAS IN A HANGAR WITH MORE TIME I WOULD HAVE SPENT ALL DAY RESEARCHING UNTIL I FELT SATISFIED OF REMEDY NEEDED; INSTEAD OF BEING RUSHED AT THE GATE.