Stop them before someone dies....
Jul 30, 2009, 5:24 pm
#1
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Stop them before someone dies....
Saw this posted elsewhere. It's apparently from an ASRS (Aviation Safety Reporting System) report:
Full text here
ASRS = a voluntary system run by NASA that allows people involved in the aviation industry - crew, mechanics, pilots, atc, etc. to anonymously report events or conditions that might affect safety of flight.
I was notified by my supervisor that an aircraft was coming in from ZZZ with a broken tamper seal on the forward lavatory O2 mask door. Our initial thought was that we needed to replace the broken seal. We later discovered that a seal is not required and that the tsa in ZZZ had put it on. I questioned maintenance control and they were aware of it and allowed the plane to fly with this seal in place. We took a lengthy delay investigating this and in the end we removed the seal; opened the O2 door and verified that the masks were packed correctly and re-closed the door. Today; another aircraft had the same issue; however; this time we did not know about it ahead of time. Apparently a fleet service supervisor told one of our technicians about the tape this time and I was notified just before push time. This time the seal was not broken so the forward lavatory O2 mask door was disabled by the tsa.
...........
I can't believe the airline or the FAA would allow the tsa to perform undocumented maintenance on one of our aircrafts; resulting in a disabled emergency O2 system.
...........
I can't believe the airline or the FAA would allow the tsa to perform undocumented maintenance on one of our aircrafts; resulting in a disabled emergency O2 system.
ASRS = a voluntary system run by NASA that allows people involved in the aviation industry - crew, mechanics, pilots, atc, etc. to anonymously report events or conditions that might affect safety of flight.
Jul 30, 2009, 6:27 pm
#3
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So why is he posting on some anonymous blog? Shouldn't he do something that will get this investigated?
If the 02 masks deploy, the O2 masks in the lav will not drop and the passenger in the lav will not see other masks dropping around him and will not even know he is missing one.
If the 02 masks deploy, the O2 masks in the lav will not drop and the passenger in the lav will not see other masks dropping around him and will not even know he is missing one.
Jul 30, 2009, 6:30 pm
#4
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Jul 30, 2009, 8:04 pm
#5
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So why is he posting on some anonymous blog? Shouldn't he do something that will get this investigated?
If the 02 masks deploy, the O2 masks in the lav will not drop and the passenger in the lav will not see other masks dropping around him and will not even know he is missing one.
If the 02 masks deploy, the O2 masks in the lav will not drop and the passenger in the lav will not see other masks dropping around him and will not even know he is missing one.
The intent and purpose of this is to permit truthful, candid reports of events that happen during air operations without fear of an enforcement action. It requires a written report and a receipt is mailed to the originator with a date stamp. It must be sent within 10 days of the event and is anonymized after NASA receives it.
This is precisely the type of event this system is supposed to be used for.
Now, as for whomever placed that tape over an oxygen mask door which is supposed to deploy when there is an unexpected rapid cabin depressurization has done several things:
1. They have disabled an essential safety mechanism, rendering the aircraft unairworthy.
2. They have performed maintenance on an aircraft likely not having in their possession an Airframe and Powerplant rating granted by the FAA authorizing them to perform maintenance on an airframe, thus rendering the aircraft unairworthy until it is inspected by an Airframe mechanic with an Inspection Authorization.
3. They have potentially place the life of an occupant of the lav at risk, and thus you are correct. A formal report should be made to the local Flight Standards District Office and the airline's Primary Maintenance Inspector to determine who authorized an unrated mechanic to make changes to the airframe not in compliance with the manufacturer's maintenance manuals or contrary to FAA AC-43 on a certificated airplane.
The FSDO should make all effort to find the guilty parties and haul their sorry butts before the local administrative law judge and fine the snot out of them. Or get the FBI involved. Tampering with an aircraft is a federal offense and does come under the FBI's jurisdiction.
And maybe the airlines should hire off duty FFDOs to guard the airplanes while on the ground against anyone who might wish to climb on pitoh/static systems, flight control surfaces, or tamper with aircraft equipment. Or pilots might just decide to write up a maintenance squawk stating the aircraft was tampered with and ground the plane until maintenance goes over the entire aircraft. A few of these, particularly if they depart DCA when congress is leaving might get someone's attention.
Last edited by greentips; Jul 30, 2009 at 8:38 pm Reason: after thought added
Jul 30, 2009, 9:15 pm
#6
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(BTW, "Airframe and Powerplant rating" sounds harder than checking IDs. Is it? 
) The FSDO should make all effort to find the guilty parties and haul their sorry butts before the local administrative law judge and fine the snot out of them. Or get the FBI involved. Tampering with an aircraft is a federal offense and does come under the FBI's jurisdiction.
...following through on regulatory inspection activity. ...TSA is reviewing the inspection results and depending on the conclusion, could take action with the airline....
While the inspection process is a vital layer of aviation security, it is not TSA’s intent to cause delays or potential damage to aircraft as a result of our inspections. TSA took immediate steps to re-enforce education about sensitive equipment ...
While the inspection process is a vital layer of aviation security, it is not TSA’s intent to cause delays or potential damage to aircraft as a result of our inspections. TSA took immediate steps to re-enforce education about sensitive equipment ...
Jul 30, 2009, 9:46 pm
#7
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Jul 30, 2009, 9:54 pm
#8
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The NASA ASRS is not an anonymous blog. This system has been in place for decades to allow air crews, controllers, maintenance personnel to file a written report of events that happen in aircraft in flight, preparing for flight or after landing. NASA analysts review them for patterns which might affect aviation safety. Then they make periodic reports and recommendations.
The intent and purpose of this is to permit truthful, candid reports of events that happen during air operations without fear of an enforcement action. It requires a written report and a receipt is mailed to the originator with a date stamp. It must be sent within 10 days of the event and is anonymized after NASA receives it.
This is precisely the type of event this system is supposed to be used for.
Now, as for whomever placed that tape over an oxygen mask door which is supposed to deploy when there is an unexpected rapid cabin depressurization has done several things:
1. They have disabled an essential safety mechanism, rendering the aircraft unairworthy.
2. They have performed maintenance on an aircraft likely not having in their possession an Airframe and Powerplant rating granted by the FAA authorizing them to perform maintenance on an airframe, thus rendering the aircraft unairworthy until it is inspected by an Airframe mechanic with an Inspection Authorization.
3. They have potentially place the life of an occupant of the lav at risk, and thus you are correct. A formal report should be made to the local Flight Standards District Office and the airline's Primary Maintenance Inspector to determine who authorized an unrated mechanic to make changes to the airframe not in compliance with the manufacturer's maintenance manuals or contrary to FAA AC-43 on a certificated airplane.
The FSDO should make all effort to find the guilty parties and haul their sorry butts before the local administrative law judge and fine the snot out of them. Or get the FBI involved. Tampering with an aircraft is a federal offense and does come under the FBI's jurisdiction.
And maybe the airlines should hire off duty FFDOs to guard the airplanes while on the ground against anyone who might wish to climb on pitoh/static systems, flight control surfaces, or tamper with aircraft equipment. Or pilots might just decide to write up a maintenance squawk stating the aircraft was tampered with and ground the plane until maintenance goes over the entire aircraft. A few of these, particularly if they depart DCA when congress is leaving might get someone's attention.
The intent and purpose of this is to permit truthful, candid reports of events that happen during air operations without fear of an enforcement action. It requires a written report and a receipt is mailed to the originator with a date stamp. It must be sent within 10 days of the event and is anonymized after NASA receives it.
This is precisely the type of event this system is supposed to be used for.
Now, as for whomever placed that tape over an oxygen mask door which is supposed to deploy when there is an unexpected rapid cabin depressurization has done several things:
1. They have disabled an essential safety mechanism, rendering the aircraft unairworthy.
2. They have performed maintenance on an aircraft likely not having in their possession an Airframe and Powerplant rating granted by the FAA authorizing them to perform maintenance on an airframe, thus rendering the aircraft unairworthy until it is inspected by an Airframe mechanic with an Inspection Authorization.
3. They have potentially place the life of an occupant of the lav at risk, and thus you are correct. A formal report should be made to the local Flight Standards District Office and the airline's Primary Maintenance Inspector to determine who authorized an unrated mechanic to make changes to the airframe not in compliance with the manufacturer's maintenance manuals or contrary to FAA AC-43 on a certificated airplane.
The FSDO should make all effort to find the guilty parties and haul their sorry butts before the local administrative law judge and fine the snot out of them. Or get the FBI involved. Tampering with an aircraft is a federal offense and does come under the FBI's jurisdiction.
And maybe the airlines should hire off duty FFDOs to guard the airplanes while on the ground against anyone who might wish to climb on pitoh/static systems, flight control surfaces, or tamper with aircraft equipment. Or pilots might just decide to write up a maintenance squawk stating the aircraft was tampered with and ground the plane until maintenance goes over the entire aircraft. A few of these, particularly if they depart DCA when congress is leaving might get someone's attention.
I think your on the right track however if anyone is performing any kind of maintenance on an airplane and does not hold the proper certificates then they should be properly charged with a crime and hauled into Federal Court for trial.
They are a hazard to the passengers flying on the aircraft, to the crew and potentially to themselves.
If they work for DHS then they should be buried under the jail.
Jul 31, 2009, 3:52 am
#9
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scary......
scary......
Jul 31, 2009, 6:06 am
#10
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The FSDO should make all effort to find the guilty parties and haul their sorry butts before the local administrative law judge and fine the snot out of them. Or get the FBI involved. Tampering with an aircraft is a federal offense and does come under the FBI's jurisdiction.
Jul 31, 2009, 6:20 am
#11
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stop them
currently work for an FAA Repair Station. I'm not an A&P as I'm in marketing, but I am very familiar with FARS etc. everything that has been noted by prior posters is correct regarding airworthiness compliance, but I'd like to add one other point of interest.
all of our A&P's undergo mandated random drug tests. We just had the local agency that administers them in yesterday as a matter of fact. They do about 10% of our group every time (we have about 40-45 hands-on folks).
don't know what TSA's drug policy is as far as testing. probably have to pass one prior to employment. doubt if they are tested subsequently. maybe one of our TSO's can answer that.
either way if the TSO's are even so much as touching a part they are breaking the law.
all of our A&P's undergo mandated random drug tests. We just had the local agency that administers them in yesterday as a matter of fact. They do about 10% of our group every time (we have about 40-45 hands-on folks).
don't know what TSA's drug policy is as far as testing. probably have to pass one prior to employment. doubt if they are tested subsequently. maybe one of our TSO's can answer that.
either way if the TSO's are even so much as touching a part they are breaking the law.
Jul 31, 2009, 7:08 am
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Jul 31, 2009, 10:16 am
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It’s amazing how clueless the TSA is around aircraft. From holding their hand under a steam of Skydrol, climbing on aircraft damaging the pitot tubes and AOA vanes, to disabling safety equipment.
Just more reasons to keep the TSA’s mitts off General Aviation.
Just more reasons to keep the TSA’s mitts off General Aviation.
Jul 31, 2009, 10:21 am
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Jul 31, 2009, 11:46 am
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