Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Time Pressure; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure; Logbook Entry; Human Factors
Aircraft X; ZZZ Line Maintenance; [date]. Midnight shift. #1 eng has running fuel leak from drain mast...; VSV (variable stator vane) actuator r&r which is RII on install and ops/leak check. Lead [Name 1] signed aircraft logbook entry [following day]. No inspector called even though 3 were on duty. RII signed for in aircraft logbook entry by [name 2]. [Name 2] is not an inspector or qualified for RII of any kind. [Name 1] signs airworthiness release for Aircraft X. Aircraft X leaves ZZZ on revenue flight to ZZZ1. Aircraft X returns to ZZZ on revenue flight. (Both flights noncompliant) with false RII sign off in logbook. Midnight shift is notified of failure by both leads and an inspector is called to inspect and do ops/leak check.[Name 3] feels something is not right with this job and starts to ask questions. I return from days off and continue to dig. [6 days later] FAA inspector [Name 4] is notified in the morning. Cause: both leads are inexperienced and lacking in procedures knowledge. Neither has worked in ZZZ as line mechanics. Suggestions: a requirement of 18 months experience as line mechanic should be in place for a crew chief position (leadman) as it is now a mechanic on probation as new hire can bid and get the job. The men he is assigned to lead cannot be trained and steered correctly to succeed by someone barely able to function in this dynamic and dangerous situation.
Technician reported non compliance with Company manuals and procedures caused an aircraft to fly in revenue service twice with falsified log book entries.