Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors
I performed a Defueling Task on an EMB-120 aircraft in preparation for C-Check. I used the equipment provided by the company to defuel the aircraft; not knowing that it was not the proper equipment stated in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). After the work was performed; I signed off the right and left wing Defueling Card blocks saying I performed it in accordance to the AMM. It was the FAA that found out about the problem due to a call from some who said we weren't performing the proper procedure and using the proper equipment when defueling aircraft. The reason to why this equipment was used instead of the one required in the AMM Manual; was because that's the way I was trained to do it and everyone who performed the task before me have done it many times and [that] became the 'new way of doing it.' Being the first time performing the task; the [defueling] equipment was set up and ready to go. And the Crew Leader fearing that the next shift was going to be upset for not defueling the aircraft when they got there; asked me to do it. In a way I would say there was pressure on me to complete it as fast as I could. So I jumped on the task right away without wasting time. It is my fault for not following the AMM at the time. If I would have just stopped for a moment and pulled the [Manual] out this incident would have been addressed and fixed properly. An FAA Inspector came to the Base [two months later]; to talk to me about the issue. I was not notified about the violation by anyone; only by the FAA Inspector.  I would suggest for the Leader of the crew; not to rush the mechanics on performing a task and expecting an unrealistic time for it to be done. It seems to me; and it happened before; when I'm about to perform a job and; the leaders want you to start on it right away; and they seem to get upset when your in a computer pulling out references for the job. It happens a lot so; I think it should stop. The required equipment should be in the facility for tasks that are performed often.
An Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) was informed by an FAA Inspector that he did not use the proper equipment when he had defueled an EMB-120 aircraft. Technician noted that he; and others before him and after him; had been trained to use the same equipment.