Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors; Company Policy
On [Date] I was given the work assignment of running the #1 engine on Aircraft X for a BUG (Back-Up Generator) operational and leak check by my lead mechanic; ref log page. I knew that there was a fuel leak in the pylon for the #1 engine as I had written it up the day before; ref log page. At this time the left wing had 30;000 lbs of fuel in it to help find the leak source into the pylon. I declined to run the engine to verify the operation of the relatively minor repair of the BUG replacement compared to the danger of fire from an active fuel leak into the #1 engine's pylon. I explained my reasoning to the pair of shift foreman. They went away and returned with the directive to 'Run the Engine' regardless of the fuel leak or my concerns. The foreman said the Operating Manager had directed this.  At this point I decided to run the engine as they ordered me to do rather than risk losing my job. I ran the engine with an eye for protecting my work partners and the aircraft as much as possible given the situation management forced me into. As the days have gone by since this happened it has bothered me more and more until I felt I had to reach out to the [Aviation Safety Action Program] and Ground Safety committees. Please take note of [Company] Engine Run Policy [Number].'At no time will safety be compromised for operational reasons'.
Air Carrier Maintenance Technician reports Management pressure to ignore safety concerns.