AN MD-80 MECHANIC REPORTS FAILING TO SAFETY WIRE THE ENGINE FUEL FILTER BOWL AFTER REPLACING THE INTERNAL FUEL FILTER.

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WHILE PERFORMING FUEL FILTER CHANGE ON ACFT; FILTER BOWL WAS NOT SAFETIED. LEAK CHK WAS PERFORMED AND I INTENDED TO SAFETY FILTER BOWL AFTERWARD BUT NEGLECTED TO DO SO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS RE-INSTALLING THE FUEL FILTER; HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT CUTTING THE O-RING SEAL AND WANTED TO PERFORM A FUEL LEAK CHECK FIRST; BEFORE SAFETY WIRING THE BOWL BECAUSE IF THE O-RING ON THE BOWL LEAKED HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE FUEL BOWL OFF AGAIN AND INSTALL A NEW SEAL. NO LEAKS WERE FOUND. HE FORGOT TO GO BACK AND RE-SAFETY WIRE THE FUEL BOWL AFTER THE LEAK CHECK. WHILE WORKING ON ANOTHER MD-80 ACFT ENGINE THE FOLLOWING NIGHT HE NOTICED THE SAFETY WIRE ON THAT ENGINE FUEL FILTER BOWL AND SUDDENLY STARTED THINKING; HE COULD NOT REMEMBER SAFETY WIRING THE FILTER BOWL HE WORKED ON THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. SO HE LOCATED THE ACFT DOWNLINE AND MAINT PERSONNEL WENT OUT TO CHECK; AND SURE ENOUGH; NO SAFETY WIRE. THE FUEL FILTER BOWL WAS RECHECKED FOR SECURITY AND THEN SAFETY WIRED.