A Mechanic reports about a confusing Engineering Order that involved installing two special Placards for 'Safety Seals' in the Aft lavatories; on the Passenger Oxygen panels of a new B737-800.
Synopsis
A Mechanic reports about a confusing Engineering Order that involved installing two special Placards for 'Safety Seals' in the Aft lavatories; on the Passenger Oxygen panels of a new B737-800.
Narrative
I was notified that a Non-Conformance was generated as a result of an Engineering Order (EO) that was accomplished by me. After the Briefing; I thought back to the day/process. I remember very clearly that the Engineering Order (EO) was very confusing. I completely read the EO to understand the job/process. I could not find anywhere on the aircraft installed unit; where to apply the putty as outlined in Figure 2.Moving on with the EO; I remember very clearly the issue with the hole in the panel as outlined in Figure 1. The template has a specific location requirement as outline in Figure 1. I remember very clearly performing dry run position attempt to find the best location (typical) for the template. After the location was decided and adhesive backing was removed from the template. I remember very clearly the center part of template being removed along with the adhesive backing. I looked again at the Engineering Order (EO) and decided the center part must be production waste material used by the template Manufacturer to maintain the template shape. I remember very clearly the way it looked when installed on the aircraft panel. These two templates were affixed to the panel as outlines in Figure 1 of this EO and in about the approximate location (typical) and the center part (thought to be waste) were removed. With the templates affixed in this configuration; the 'Safety Seal' when applied would be bedded in the rectangle area of the template. I was shown the Non-Conformance report by my Maintenance Manager and we talked about the importance of the issue. He also showed me the pictures taken. The pictures taken were of templates installed; not per EO Figure 1; and the picture clearly showed that these templates had the center part (thought to be waste) installed. This EO needs to be re-written. The center part of the template could be mistaken as waste. The installed unit on aircraft looks nothing like the figures in the EO. There is no place to apply the putty as outlined in the EO. The Engineering Order is unclear about the center part of the template/placard. I installed it on a B737-800 with the center part removed in the correct position outlined in the EO. The pictures show this template with the center part installed in the wrong position per Engineering Order.
NASA callback
Reporter stated the Engineering Order (EO) he was referring to involved one of their new B737-800's that required two special placards to be positioned on the passenger Oxygen swing down access panels panels in both Aft lavatories. There are two pieces (sections) for each placard. Each section is shaped like a square horseshoe and their open ends should face each other after installation. One section should be on the access panel and the other on surrounding structure. The confusion was whether or not the center portion of each horseshoe was also suppose to stay with the horseshoe shaped placard or be removed. Reporter stated the correct installation was to keep the center portion with each horseshoe section after removing the backing paper from the sticky placard. But the center portion separated easily from the rest of the horseshoe template; when he removed the backing paper to apply the horseshoe placard sections on the Oxygen panel. The center section is only half as thick as a paperbook fire match; so he thought the center section was not suppose to be part of the placard installation. Reporter stated the pictures he was shown; had the two horseshoe sections facing each other on the Oxygen Mask door and swing down access panel; not the access swing down panel and surrounding structure. He still has a hard time believing he also installed the placard in the wrong location on the Oxygen panel. The Safety Seals are placed inside the horseshoe shaped placards.Reporter stated that at a downline station; FAA questioned the lack of screws and sealant putty with the placard as noted in the Engineering Order. But with that type of installation there is no purpose or location for screws. That's why he felt the EO needed to be rewritten.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.