A Line Maintenance Mechanic reports a certain company Maintenance Controller's repeated efforts; using pressure and intimidating tactics; to get him to deviate from their maintenance and company procedures manuals and sign-off a ferry permit. The Q400's radome had been damaged and the Structural Repair Manual (SRM) did not allow further flight without contacting the manufacturer.
Synopsis
A Line Maintenance Mechanic reports a certain company Maintenance Controller's repeated efforts; using pressure and intimidating tactics; to get him to deviate from their maintenance and company procedures manuals and sign-off a ferry permit. The Q400's radome had been damaged and the Structural Repair Manual (SRM) did not allow further flight without contacting the manufacturer.
Narrative
I received a maintenance call from Mr. X at ZZZ Maintenance Control in regards to a DHC-8-Q400 radome damage. I examined the radome and found a soft area of approximately 1.5' x 2' inches [of radome skin] that had visible structural damage and an area of approximately five inches that failed the tap test. I then checked the Q400 SRM (Structural Repair Manual) for allowable damage and there was none. There was only a note to call the Radome manufacturer for any kind of damage.Mr. X said that he wanted to ferry the plane to ZZZ and he asked if I was comfortable signing the ferry permit. Then I asked if he knew the rules of the ferry permit in the presence of structural damage; his response was; 'it only allows chipped paint or abrasions.' I told him in this case the radome damage exceeds the limitations outlined in the Ferry Permit and I would not sign a ferry permit unless there is an EA (Engineering Authorization) or some kind of relief for a one flight temporary repair.Mr. X then asked me if the radome would stand forces in flight; my answer was 'I don't know it's for the Engineers to decide. I can only tell you that the radome suffered structural damage.' Once again; Mr. X's language became hostile and told me to disregard our parent Air Carrier X's Procedures Manual and that this Carrier Y was not as fancy as parent Carrier X and so on. Mr. X repeatedly asked me to deviate from the AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual) and the Procedures Manual by using pressure and intimidating tactics.
NASA callback
Reporter stated someone from their ramp crew had called Maintenance Control and reported the radome damage. He suspects a ramp vehicle or jetway may have made contact with the radome. Reporter stated he did not want to sign the ferry permit because of the structural repair manual damage restrictions and the fact the flight and cabin crew may be subjected to unsafe conditions if the radome were to deteriorate structurally in flight.Reporter stated the rest of their company maintenance controllers are very professional and supportive; Mr. X is the exception. He hopes that a recent memo from his parent company supporting a Mechanic's responsibility to follow the manuals will get the point across to Mr. X.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.