AN AIRBUS RETURNED TO THE FIELD DUE TO FORWARD CARGO DOOR FAILURE. SEAL FOUND IMPROPERLY INSTALLED WITH INFLATION HOLES BLOCKED WITH SEALANT.

Narrative

WHEN I CHANGED THE SEAL; I FIRMLY BELIEVED I READ IN AMM 52-31-18 TO FILL ALL THE HOLES WITH RTV (ELASTIC SEALANT). I THOUGHT AT THE TIME IT WAS ODD; BUT DID IT THE WAY I THOUGHT I HAD READ IT. I EVEN MENTIONED IT TO MY LEAD WHO SAID; IF THAT'S WHAT THE MANUAL TELLS YOU TO DO IT. LOOKING AT A CURRENT AMM REF; I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING TELLING ME TO FILL ALL THE HOLES ON THE SEAL. I BELIEVE I MUST HAVE MISREAD THAT PORTION. I BELIEVE HUMAN FACTORS PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THIS INCIDENT AS I AM UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND STRESS. SINCE I LEFT OFFICE MGMNT (PARTICULARLY DIRECTOR MR X) AND A FEW EMPLOYEES HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SET ME UP FOR TERMINATION; INCLUDING POSSIBLE SABOTAGE. I HAVE FILED GRIEVANCES (PENDING ARBITRATION) AND HARASSMENT EEO COMPLAINTS; WITHOUT RESULT. MY FELLOW CREW MEMBERS EVEN FEEL THE STRESS FROM THIS EXTREMELY HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT. I AM SURPRISED I HAVEN'T MADE A MISTAKE BEFORE THIS. THIS IS THE 1ST INCIDENT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DURING MY 17+ YRS AT ACR X. I BELIEVE THIS HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE WE ARE INVESTIGATING A MAJOR INCIDENT.