2010-04 · NASA ASRS report 885849
A Captain reports his Air Carrier's Maintenance Control has for the third time refused to send out a Mechanic to check the remaining brake wear pin indicator on a B737-700 main landing gear brake. Pilot was also informed if he entered the missing brake pin in the logbook; his entry would signed-off as 'Entered in error' because the MEL does not reference the wear pin.
Dead-headed on a B737-700 aircraft to ZZZ in order to fly [another] flight back. First Officer completed walk-around and informed me that a brake wear pin indicator was missing off the right main gear. I called Dispatch and was connected to Maintenance Control. After explaining the problem I was informed; yet again (this is the third time) that any entry on my part would be entered in error and they would not send a mechanic out. After my last brake wear pin report; I received a note from Mr. 'X' that I should check my work file. There I found a page of the B-737 Maintenance Manual (MM) which Mr. 'X' had highlighted; proving to me (supposedly) that the brake wear pin can be missing. However; the rest of the highlighted portion states '..then the brake [# 4] can stay in service if the remaining wear indicator pin operation is satisfactory' I have no way of knowing; since those pages weren't included; what a satisfactory operational check is in this particular case; and since it's in the Maintenance Manual I assume that would be a Maintenance function. And as usual; most people here are missing the point. I am perfectly willing to accept an aircraft with a missing pin (even though it is not mentioned in the MEL book) but SOMETHING IS MISSING FROM MY AIRPLANE. Entry in the logbook is required and expected; 'Entered in error' is not an acceptable response from Maintenance. I am particularly impressed with Mr 'Y's comments concerning this when I told him I had spoken with the FAA and they stated that Maintenance should come out to be aware the pin was missing. After three reports; I'm beginning to believe the Certificate Management Office (CMO) doesn't care either; so perhaps Mr 'Y' is right. Or this would have been fixed by now and it'd be in the MEL book.
Reporter stated his air carrier has decided to add language to their flight manual stating a missing brake wear pin indicator is acceptable for dispatch. There isn't any willingness from their Chief Pilot or Flight Operations to add an item to their MEL to include language stating that dispatch acceptable with one pin missing.Reporter also stated his carrier has recently implemented a new policy of recording conversations between Dispatch; Maintenance Control and the Flight Crews. Since then; he has seen a more positive attitude and willingness from their Maintenance Control group to address pilot inflight mechanical issues.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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