2011-09 · NASA ASRS report 972902
A Contract Repair Station Inspector was informed that he overlooked the correct thickness of a repair doubler installed at the skinlap seam between fuselage frames 13/14 on the left side of a customer A319 aircraft. Inspector noted that fatigue from a long humid night and stress from being the only Inspector to cover an aircraft undergoing a Heavy C-check were contributors.
I am a Quality Control Inspector for an aircraft Contract Repair Station. An A319 aircraft from Air Carrier X was having a structural repair to a skinlap seam between frames 13 and 14 left side. When called to review the repair parts and the repair layout and fit; I reviewed the non-routine [paperwork] for the mechanic's entries. Mechanic stated [that] fabricated doubler from material 2024T3 [was] .080 [thousandths of an inch thick] and filler from material 2024T3 [was] .071 [thousandths of an inch]; which I checked against company material issue tags and part numbers (P/N). During inspection of repair rivet layout pattern and damage cutout; I discovered that the [fuselage skin] cutout [minimum] radius was incorrect according to Structural Repair Manual (SRM) 53-11-11; figure 218.After notifying the sheet metal crew what needed to be done; they took the majority of the night correcting it. After three inspections before the end of the shift; the [fuselage skin cutout] repair radius was finally corrected. I reviewed the cutout radius; instructed Mechanic to Cleco [(hold together)] all repair parts in place for fit and pattern line up. I was satisfied and gave the Mechanic the 'OK' to treat and [paint with] fluid resistant primer; then install repair [doubler]. Now; it has been brought to my attention that I overlooked the correct thickness of the repair doubler material; which should have been 0.090 [thousandths of an inch] instead of 0.080 [thousandths] thickness.This has taught me a valuable lesson; to never let my guard down to make sure that all pages of task from [maintenance] manuals are present; and; if I feel the need of additional eyes to triple check behind myself to ensure that all work was done according to the manuals; to ensure the safety of the flying public. Air Carrier X returned their A319 aircraft to our Repair Station in ZZZ for rework of the repair. I believe that the human factors that contributed to this event were fatigue from a long humid night and stress from being only one Inspector to cover an aircraft undergoing a Heavy C-check when the work load is intense.
Engineering for Air Carrier X did a review of the Maintenance paperwork and noticed a discrepany with the required .090 thousandths of an inch thickness for the Repair Doubler compared with the .080 thousandths aluminum material that was actually installed. Reporter stated he was suspended for three days without pay for not verifying the Repair Doubler thickness. He was also told to understand the differences between the Boeing and Airbus maintenance manuals.
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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