AN AIRBUS A320 MECHANIC DESCRIBES THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE ACFT'S EMERGENCY RAT MOTOR BLADES BEING DAMAGED DURING INITIAL SPIN UP BY A BLANKET BEING SUCKED INTO THE BLADES.

Narrative

I WAS ASSIGNED A MAINT SVC AND THE RAT CHK WITH ANOTHER MECH. WE FINISHED MOST OF THE SVC AND BEGAN TO SET UP FOR THE RAT CHK. I INSTALLED THE RAT CAGE AND UTILIZED A BLANKET FOR A PAD TO PREVENT ABRASION TO THE LOWER FUSELAGE. THE BLANKET WAS SECURED WITH UPWARD PRESSURE FROM THE RAT CAGE. THE INITIAL SPIN-UP SUCKED THE BLANKET AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE BLADE. I WENT TO INSPECT THE RAT AND FOUND THE EDGE/TIP CURLED. THE DAMAGE WAS IMMEDIATELY RPTED TO MY LEAD. THE KNOWN FACTOR ON THIS SHIFT IS THE CONTINUOUS FEELING OF FATIGUE WITH A GENERAL POOR LIGHTING CONDITION EVERYWHERE. THE LACK OF FORMAL TRAINING AND INFREQUENCY LED TO UNCERTAINTY. THE MISSING PAD ON THE RAT CAGE LED TO A COMPROMISE WITH THE BLANKET. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 776024: HE THEN JACKED THE CAGE UP AND PINNED THE BLANKET AGAINST THE FUSELAGE WITH JUST AN INCH OR TWO INSIDE THE CAGE. SOMEHOW DURING RAT SPIN-UP; THE BLANKET WAS DRAWN INTO THE CAGE AND GOT CAUGHT IN RAT AND BENT A BLADE TIP. ALSO; I WAS NOT ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN THE SETUP. I JUST HAPPENED TO OBSERVE THE CAGE AFTER THE SETUP WAS COMPLETE.