Damage to the number one engine acoustical lining is discovered during preflight and maintenance was called. After some discussion and delay it was decided that the damage is not of a critical nature and the flight may depart. Upon hearing this news one of the flight attendants walked off the plane. The flight departed six hours late after a replacement arrived.
Synopsis
Damage to the number one engine acoustical lining is discovered during preflight and maintenance was called. After some discussion and delay it was decided that the damage is not of a critical nature and the flight may depart. Upon hearing this news one of the flight attendants walked off the plane. The flight departed six hours late after a replacement arrived.
Narrative
During walk around on preflight; I found a 1/2 inch wide by 1/8 inch deep hole in the soundproofing at the 6 o'clock position under the fan blades on the number 1 engine. I showed the Captain and we wrote the hole up and contacted Maintenance. Maintenance arranged for a Local Mechanic to look at the damage. Maintenance and the Mechanic said the damage was deferrable and the plane was safe to fly. The Captain and I were both doubtful so we each talked to Maintenance about the situation. Maintenance convinced us that this was a rather routine situation and the plane was safe to fly. We both then decided we were comfortable with the situation and decided to continue with the flight. We started boarding and then one of the Flight Attendant's walked off of the airplane. We tried to talk to her about the situation but she felt very uncomfortable and didn't want to fly because of a gut feeling in her stomach. We even offered for her to talk to Maintenance for them to explain the situation to her but she would not talk to Maintenance. She was visibly upset. Our air carrier flew in another Flight Attendant to take the third Flight Attendant position. After a six hour delay we continued with our flight without incident. The Captain handled the situation extremely well ensuring the plane was safe to fly and all considerations were taken into account. This is the first time in my 11 years of flying with this Company that a Flight Attendant has walked off the airplane because of a deferred maintenance write-up.
Second reporter narrative
On preflight the First Officer found damage from a previous repair in the #1 engine cowling acoustical lining at the 6 o'clock position directly below the fan blade area; a hole the size of my finger and an 8 inch crack with an irregular surface that went back to the metal part of the engine. Called Maintenance and Dispatch and a Local Mechanic was sent within 10 min. He took a picture and forwarded it to Maintenance Control. After consulting with the Local Mechanic; looking at the maintenance manual he had and talking with a Maintenance Engine Controller we determined that we could take the plane. We are now about 1:15 late. I went back and briefed the Flight Attendant's that the First Officer and I felt that it was a safe aircraft but one Flight Attendant; became very upset believing it was an unsafe condition and refused to take the flight. The First Officer and I tried to talk to her in the gate area and offered for her to talk to the Mechanic but she continued to insist that she was scared and would not take the flight under any circumstances. A new Flight Attendant was sent and we departed about 6 hours late without further incident.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.