Upon gate arrival an A319 Captain was informed by a company Mechanic the Aft Cargo Door viewing windows used to verify the position of the door locks were obscured. The position of the door latch locks could not be determined. The cockpit ECAM Aft Cargo Door indication had been previously MEL deferred requiring the windows be checked for proper lock positions prior to each flight.
Synopsis
Upon gate arrival an A319 Captain was informed by a company Mechanic the Aft Cargo Door viewing windows used to verify the position of the door locks were obscured. The position of the door latch locks could not be determined. The cockpit ECAM Aft Cargo Door indication had been previously MEL deferred requiring the windows be checked for proper lock positions prior to each flight.
Narrative
After parking [aircraft]; Mechanic X was on jet bridge and he asked Captain how the Aft Cargo Door was checked at their departure city. He stated that the visual indicators on the aircraft were [not] clear and clean and NO indicators were visible at our arrival and before ramp had access to the aircraft. If Mechanic X's assessment was accurate; I suspect this aircraft was improperly deferred and released. If this door was not secured per aircraft design; then multiple flights put hundreds of passengers and employees at risk. Captain did call Maintenance Control prior to accepting the flight and asked specifically about this door and how to properly comply with the Deferral. After arriving [at our destination] and hearing the Mechanic's observation; the Captain called both Maintenance Control and the arrival airport's Flight Office to flag this problem. Further follow-up indicates the cargo door deferral had been cleared and the aircraft is operating. Follow-up information had been requested from Maintenance; none has been provided at this time. Captain feels that any mechanical failure that requires any inspection on a continuing basis should only be completed by a FAA certified Mechanic.
NASA callback
The reporter stated that; prior to his inbound leg; an ECAM message on their A319 indicating the Aft Cargo Door was not closed; had been written-up several flights earlier by a flight crew and deferred by their Maintenance Control. He (Reporter) had discussed the deferral with the same Maintenance Control group prior to accepting the aircraft and was assured the alternate visual check of the Aft Cargo Door locks would be accomplished by a Contract provider prior to his departure from the departure station.The reporter stated that when he arrived at his destination; their company Mechanic had met their aircraft and visually checked the Aft Cargo Door lock indication windows. The Mechanic informed him (Reporter) that all six windows for the door locks were obscured and no determination could have been made as to whether or not the Cargo Door locks were properly locked prior to his departure.The reporter stated he then made a Logbook write-up about the obscured door lock indication windows and the aircraft was removed from service and the deferral quickly removed. He also learned that Maintenance Control did not use or call out a Contract Maintenance Mechanic to verify the Aft Cargo Door was properly locked prior to his departure.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.