2011-10 · NASA ASRS report 978232
Returning from a weekend off; a Mechanic realizes he had left a pair of wire cutters out of his toolbox two days earlier. A few days later and after several attempts to find the cutters with no help from his Lead; he approached an Inspector who helped coordinate having the plane searched.
I had left a pair of flush cut dikes [wire cutters] out of my tool box when leaving work for the weekend. Upon returning to work on Monday; I had discovered that they were missing from my tool box when I was organizing my tools. I immediately notified my Lead; Mr. X; that I was missing a tool. He in return told me 'don't worry about it. I saw them sitting on a table near the parts shelf.' I then proceeded to look for my missing tool where Mr. X had said he saw them last; but they were not there. I then started asking the other mechanics that I was working with if they had seen my missing tool. All of them had said no. I then brought it back up to my Lead Mr. X a couple of times over the next few days. Every time I was told not to worry about it because he had seen them sitting on a table. I took no further action with regards to reporting this to anyone else. Several working days later before the aircraft was ready for Return to Service; I started talking to my Lead Mr. X again about my concern for my missing tool. Once again I was told not to worry about it because he had searched the entire aircraft and didn't find anything. Still being concerned I brought it up to my inspector; Mr. Y. He then in turn had me talk with my department supervisor Mr. Z. I explained my story to Mr. Z; who felt that this was a serious matter and needed to be addressed. Suggest having tool control in place. Outline better communication between Lead and Mechanic. Stress the importance of safety and reporting issues.
In early November; Quality Assurance (QA) personnel came to me and said Mechanic X; had reported a lost tool to his Lead [Lead X]; in late October. At that time; Mechanic X told Lead X he had seen the tool on a table and it was not on the aircraft. [When I became aware of this]; I went directly to Supervisor X and reported the lost tool. Mechanic X spoke with Supervisor X at this time and a search for the tool began. Not finding a tool; the aircraft was depaneled and a search was performed by two QA personnel and at least two mechanics. The tool was never found; an entry in the work order specifying the action taken was entered and the aircraft reassembled.Jeopardizing lives; aircraft; and individual livelihoods due to perceived delivery schedules is unacceptable. Management and QA need to be notified of a lost tool and a search begun immediately; not after an aircraft is assembled.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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