A CERTIFIED INSPECTOR RPTS AFTER REPAIRING A HELI SUBMITTED 337 FORMS BUT ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY WITH A FSDO INSPECTOR APPROVING THE DOCUMENTS. FAILED TO INITIAL A BLOCK ON 1 FORM.
Synopsis
A CERTIFIED INSPECTOR RPTS AFTER REPAIRING A HELI SUBMITTED 337 FORMS BUT ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY WITH A FSDO INSPECTOR APPROVING THE DOCUMENTS. FAILED TO INITIAL A BLOCK ON 1 FORM.
Narrative
I INSPECTED THE HELI COURIER PER THE OWNER'S REQUEST OF FILING FORM 337'S ON A WINGTIP REPAIR; NEW SEATBELT/REEL TYPE SHOULDER HARNESSES; AND AN UPGRADED 'RG' TYPE ACFT BATTERY. SO I FILLED OUT THE 337'S AND MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN TO SEND THEM TO THE FAA WITHIN 48 HRS. (OUR OFFICE MGR WAS GOING ON VACATION; AND SHE USUALLY HANDLES THESE THINGS.) ON OR AROUND JUL/THU/04; I ACCOMPLISHED AN ANNUAL/100 HR INSPECTION ON THE ACFT; AND SIGNED THE ACFT OFF AS 'RETURNED TO SVC.' SO; I MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE 337'S AS THE FEDS SEEM TO TAKE A LONG TIME IN ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE THIS. THERE WAS; FOR A LONG TIME; A SIGN ON THE FAA DOOR THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE: 'NO FIELD APPROVALS; OR NO ONE TIME STC'S.' I EVENTUALLY FOUND THE 337'S ON MY DESK; UNDER SOME TECHNICAL MANUALS ON THAT ACFT. I CALLED THE FAA AND SPOKE TO MY PMI; MR X; AND ADVISED HIM THAT I MAY NOT HAVE MAILED THE 337'S IN TO HIS OFFICE AS SOON AS I SHOULD HAVE (JUST FOUND THEM ON MY DESK); AND IF WE LEAVE THE DATES 'AS IS'; ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS WILL MATCH MY LOG ENTRIES ON THE ACFT. MR X WAS VERY KIND; AND SAID; 'JUST MAIL THEM IN TO HIM.' SO I MAILED THE 337'S TO THE FAA. EVENTUALLY; MR X CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT I FORGOT TO SIGN THEM. NOTE: I DID NOT SIGN THEM FRONT AND BACK; BUT I MAY HAVE MISSED SIGNING THE BOTTOM BLOCK ON THE BOTTOM FRONT PAGE (OOPS). OK; MR X SAID 'IT'S NO BIG DEAL;' AND HE'D BRING THE FORMS DOWN AND I COULD JUST SIGN THEM THERE. MY PMI SHOWED UP WITH A GUY NAMED MR Y. MR Y STARTED LECTURING ME AND ASKING ME QUESTIONS LIKE 'DON'T YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BTWN A MAJOR AND MINOR REPAIR?' NOTE: I'VE BEEN AN IA FOR OVER 16 YRS. HE STARTED RIPPING THROUGH MY 337'S TO THE POINT THAT NOTHING ON THEM (TO HIM) WAS CORRECT. HE WANTED TO KNOW WHY I INCLUDED SOME MINOR REPAIRS ON THE WING ALONG WITH THE MAJOR THINGS; AND SAID THAT I WAS BLENDING APPLES AND ORANGES. BLOCK #8 CLRLY STATES: DESCRIPTION OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED. SO; I ALWAYS INCLUDE THE COMPLETE REPAIR AS ACCOMPLISHED; WHICH INCLUDES THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR THINGS INVOLVED IN THE COMPLETE REPAIR. IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL TO DO THIS. WELL; ANYWAY; MR X AND MR Y LEFT; SAYING THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO A LETTER TO ME REGARDING THE 337'S. MR X SAID THAT HE HAD NO PROB WITH HIM IN GRANTING A FIELD APPROVAL ON ALL OF THESE 337'S AT THIS TIME; BUT MR Y PERSISTED. THEY LEFT WITH MR Y TAKING A COPY OF MY PAPERWORK. I RESPONDED BY TELLING MR Y THAT I WAS PREPARED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES HE WANTED TO THE FORMS; THAT THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO HAVE A CLEAN RECORD; THAT THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MISHAP; ACCIDENT HERE; LOSS OF LIFE; AND THAT THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT THE MAINT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED; AND ACCOMPLISHED CORRECTLY AND SAFELY. THE ACFT OWNER WS PRESENT AND SAID NOTHING; AND AFTER MR Y WAS GONE; (THE ACFT OWNER BRIEFED ME IN THAT HE AND OTHERS ON THE FIELD HAVE HAD RUN-IN'S WITH MR Y BEFORE; AND THAT HE IS AT BEST IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE APPROVAL TO ANY PAPERWORK PRESENTED TO HIM. OK; SO HERE'S THE IRONY OF IT ALL -- BECAUSE I MAY HAVE MISSED SIGNING BLOCK #7 (APPROVAL TO SVC); I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY 'BAD' PAPERWORK; RATHER; IT JUST NEEDS TO BE REVISED TO MEET FAA MR Y'S APPROVAL; WITH MY SIGNATURE IN BLOCK #7 APPROVING THE ALTERATIONS/REPAIRS BACK TO SVC.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.