During a maintenance check on a B767-200; inspection found Rudder Ratio Changer Actuator hydraulic hose straps broken in the vertical stabilizer. Mechanic verified straps were not the modified types that records show as previously installed.

Date: 2008-12 · Aircraft: B767-200 · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-maintenance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

During a maintenance check on a B767-200; inspection found Rudder Ratio Changer Actuator hydraulic hose straps broken in the vertical stabilizer. Mechanic verified straps were not the modified types that records show as previously installed.

Narrative

During Aircraft A-7 inspection found Rudder Ratio Changer Actuator hydraulic hose straps broken; located in vertical stabilizer. Checked aircraft records to access engineering Fleet Campaign Directive only to find out this engineering Fleet Campaign Directive was shown to be previously completed. After verification with new parts listed on the engineering Fleet Campaign Directive; found that Actuator hose straps were not the new modified straps. Completed engineering Fleet Campaign Directive on this aircraft. Investigation of this finding should reveal whoever was said to have completed this engineering Fleet Campaign Directive previously and why it was not. Callback conversation with Reporter revealed the following information: Reporter stated there was a Fleet Directive to change all of the Rudder Ratio Changer Actuator hydraulic hose straps in the vertical stabilizer; on all of their B767-200's. The original tie straps securing the hydraulic hoses were small; thin and constantly found broken. As a result; the loose hydraulic hoses would rub and wear inside the vertical stabilizer due to normal movement of the Rudder Ratio Changer mechanism cranks and rods. The rubbing caused the hoses to wear thin and burst; losing hydraulic pressure to the Ratio Changer Actuator and Ratio input control to the Ratio Changer mechanism. Reporter stated he has replaced many of the old/broken tie straps on the Ratio Actuator hoses with the newer type of straps that are bigger and wider. But when he noticed the old straps were not replaced; he looked up the maintenance records and found the modification was already signed off as completed. After installing the modified straps; he tried to sign off the strap installation in their computer system. But the system would not accept his entry; while showing the modification was already accomplished. There just wasn't any place to sign off the modification he just completed.

More incidents for this aircraft family →

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.