An Aircraft Inspector was informed that a bushing was missing from a B767-300 Cabin Door Left-4 (L-4) interior door handle; after he had signed-off for the installation of the door surround panels.

Narrative

August 2011; I signed Non-Routine Card XXX as being completed. The card was written for removal and reinstallation of the Left-4 (L4) door surround panels. The above Maintenance was completed in accordance with B767 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 52-11-02; which calls for removal of the interior door handle to facilitate surround panel removal. Non-routine card XXX does not mention the removal of the interior door handle and I was not made aware that it had been removed. An 'OK to close'; the door surround panels; had been given five days previously; and when the non-routine card was presented to me; [which was] five days after; the door handle was already installed and the [door handle] mechanism was covered by the [surround] panels. I believed that I was inspecting [for] the correct installation of the door surround panels only; as indicated by the Corrective Actions on Non-Routine Card XXX. The installation of the panels looked correct and complete and the door functioned correctly. I stamped the non-routine card as complete. Subsequently I have learned that the interior door handle was installed incorrectly prior to the surround panels being installed. My inexperience with this specific procedure led me to believe I was inspecting an interior cabin panel installation only; which was cosmetic in nature. I was unaware; at the time; that any of the work accomplished involved the door mechanism itself. I should have questioned the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) who completed the card and requested a hard copy of the specific AMM that he worked from and listed in the final sign-off.