2009-01 · NASA ASRS report 859142
An Inspector and Line Mechanic report about an A320 escape slide at cabin door 1-Left that ten months later; was found with a white packing tool inside the slide assembly; covering the slide bottle aspirator. The packing tool would have prevented slide inflation if the slide was deployed.
January 2009; I performed an RII inspection of door slide 1-Left on an A320 per MM 25-62-44 and our Air Carrier instructional job card for inspection of door slide installation. The RII inspection procedure for the door slide installation consists of verification of any connectors that are disturbed; visual inspection for any obvious damage; verification of part number (P/N) effectivity and any service bulletin (SB) or airworthiness directive(AD) are printed on the exterior of slide or girt material as called out in MM 25-62-44; inspect girt bar for proper installation that is called out in MM 25-62-44; verify for proper installation of the door slide on the door; verify safety pins are removed and stowed from inflation bottle and door assist is armed and safety wired; perform emergency light test and verify bottle pressures. The RII inspection procedures were fully complied with per MM 25-62-44 and our air carrier policy. The Mechanic that installed the slide complied fully with MM 25-62-44.In February; during a 'C'-Check at ZZZ a tool was found installed on the aspirator inlet located in the slide packing; white in color; with no warnings or markings stating to remove before installation. The tool in question; is installed at a vendor for slide packing and is removed by vendor and removal verified by an inspector at the vendor prior to being a serviceable slide. It passed through our carrier's parts receiving and was given a serviceable tag in which inspection and the mechanic have to verify the part number and serial number on tag is the serviceable unit to be installed.As a serviceable unit; the vendor is responsible for assuring the serviceability of said unit per their overhauling policies and procedures. The mechanic nor the inspector installing the slide; have training or qualified to open a repacked SERVICEABLE slide to verify that vendor has complied with proper PACKING PROCEDURES; nor does the maintenance manual request it. Maintenance manual procedures are for a installation of the SERVICEABLE slide. Vendor should perform an investigation into how this unit was approved; (OK'd); for return to service. Install red in color flags and red colored covers with removal notifications on any covers or plugs used in repacking of slide. Issue Supervisor sign-off's on any covers; plugs; or any items related to safety of the repacked slide. Our carrier should have trained and qualified people performing receiving inspection procedures with component maintenance manual (CMM) and vendors overhauling procedures and sign-off paperwork in place as to assist in catching improperly overhauled parts that should have been caught by the vendors quality assurance (QA) and inspection process.When I perform an inspection on removal and installation of a door slide; I can only comply with the procedures and cautions that are in the maintenance manual. The maintenance manual does not have any information on tooling or safety devices that are used in the overhauling process; nor does it state to look for said items. I would have noticed the said 'tool;' if it had a warning flag or placard and red in color; or if the maintenance manual had a notice or warning; to look inside the packed slide that aspirator cover is not installed.
It has been brought to my attention by a previously employed Inspector and rumor; that Airbus (escape) slides installed on the Airbus 320/319 may have had the aspirator plugged with a cap.
Reporter stated no one has been able to explain to him just how the white packing tool was found inside the packed Door Slide at their Maintenance Base; during a 'C'-Check Maintenance Visit; unless the Slide was unpacked; which is not what they are suppose to do.
More incidents for this aircraft family
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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