Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Inspector 3; Maintenance Lead Technician 5; Maintenance Technician 19
Time Pressure; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Aircraft
Recently our [maintenance] program has been scrutinized for finding problems and defects in the aircraft while performing routine maintenance. Company Management has called and questioned our rationalization for finding aircraft defects; especially if it involved taking the aircraft out of service once the defect had been found. The aircraft are looked at daily to make certain that it is mission ready and safe to operate. We have been asked on numerous occasions why we looked at a particular area of the aircraft if it might end up grounding it for a defect. Just recently we were called 'uncooperative' for not modifying a critical flight control when a part that had been delivered to us did not fit. There is no approved procedure to modify this component. While we are required to perform an aircraft maintenance check regularly; it is almost certain that defects or safety related issues will be found and sometimes with other aircraft [already] out of service. It is the nature of mechanics to look into areas that are typically problem areas; paying particular attention to those that may be safety related. When Management scrutinizes or comments that we should not be looking for problems; it tends to create an attitude that 'if we are going to be told we are wrong then we just won't report the issue'. Unfortunately that lack of integrity just might be the cause of an accident. I see the problem as a lack of support to the field level and too much pressure to keep the aircraft flying and to 'close one eye' when performing maintenance. This constant 'waiting to be clubbed' [environment] has caused a high degree of degradation of morale; and I fear has; and may lead to; more apathy within the mechanics ranks.
Reporter stated he works for an air ambulance helicopter operator. They operate several helicopters including Bell 407's; Eurocopters; BK-117 and others. Company Management has not changed their attitude towards mechanics since he filed his report and Management continues to ignore their own maintenance safety policies. He believes the trend of intimidating mechanics who find defects; even when performing required checks; will continue to increase as the pressure to keep their helicopters flying increases. The critical flight control item he was referring to involved the push tube for the cyclic and collective controls on one of their Bell-407's.
An air ambulance helicopter Mechanic describes a deteriorating work environment where Maintenance Management increasingly scrutinizes defects found by mechanics. Comments have also been made that mechanics should not be looking for problems even during regular checks. Intimidation towards mechanics and apathy within the mechanics ranks continues to grow.