Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Chart Or Publication; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Manuals
While performing a fire cartridge change on (Aircraft Number) the #2 right hand engine squib was set off and discharged the canister. The cartridge was discharged while performing the continuity check which requires the pulling and turning of the fire pull handle. The lighting inside the cockpit was very poor and multiple glares coming through each window caused even less visibility. Handle was turned in the wrong position causing the bottle to be discharged. Both lead and supervisor were notified immediately of the situation. Once the bottle was discharged a hissing sound was heard. The cause of the bottle being discharged was lack of lighting; the AMM and task card not having enough safety measures (the C/B's for the bottles not being tested should be pulled alleviating any potential error).Radioed mechanics at the rear of the aircraft that were watching the continuity test box to make sure no one was injured and then immediately notified the lead and supervisor on shift of the mishap. The C/B's for the bottles not being tested should be pulled alleviating any potential error. A task card should be made for this job (the task card is currently just a component replace task card with no specifics other than p/n and s/n) specific to the aircraft and air carrier so that no further errors occur.
Maintenance Technician reports inadvertently discharging an engine fire cartridge.