AN MD80 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A FUSELAGE SKIN DENT THAT WAS FOUND OUT OF THE SRM LIMITS. LATER FOUND INTERNAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

Narrative

AIRLINES LAVATORY TRUCK IMPACTED L SIDE OF ACFT; DENTING THE FUSELAGE APPROX 18 INCHES AFT AND 18 INCHES BELOW THE FORWARD LAVATORY SVC PANEL. I DISPATCHED CONTRACTED ACR Z ACFT MECH TO EVALUATE DENT. ACR Z MECH STATED ON ACFT LOG; THE DENT MEASURED 5 INCHES DIAMETER BY 3/16 INCH DEEP. AS THE MAINT CTLR; I CONFERENCED CALLED MYSELF; THE ACR Z MECH AND AN ACR X LEAD STRUCTURES MECH TOGETHER TO DETERMINE COURSE OF ACTION. THE DC9/MD80 SRM STATES THAT 'NO EVIDENCE OF INTERNAL DAMAGE' EXISTS FOR CONTINUATION OF REVENUE FLT; ALONG WITH OTHER REQUIREMENTS. THE ACR X STRUCTURES LEAD STATED THAT 'EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT NO INTERNAL DAMAGE EXISTS PER THE DESCRIPTION AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DENT; AND NO INTERNAL INSPECTION IS REQUIRED IN ZZZ.' I CONCURRED; AND ACFT WAS DISPATCHED REVENUE TO ZZZ1. PER ACR X POLICY; THE DENT WAS PLACED ON A MAINT CARRY OVER FOR TRACKING AND RE-EVALUATION OF DENT BY ACR X PERSONNEL. THE RE-EVALUATION OF THE DENT BY ACR X PERSONNEL REVEALED DAMAGE EXISTED ON A LONGERON ATTRIBUTED TO THE DENT (INTERNAL DAMAGE); THUS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE REPAIR. I SHOULD HAVE INSISTED THE ACR Z MECH PERFORM AN INTERNAL INSPECTION OF THE DENT IN ZZZ TO AVOID POSSIBLE BREACH OF FAR'S AND SRM PROCS.