B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 157; Flight Crew Total 9713; Flight Crew Type 7019
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Procedure
On the preflight of the Captain oxygen mask; my technique is to preflight the mask as per the flight manual and then remove the mask out of the storage compartment to then clean and sanitize the mask with wipes. On today's flight; when I pulled out the Captain O2 mask; I found a solid white film attached to and covering the entire lens of the smoke goggle portion of the mask with giant letters on the film saying to remove the protective film from the lens prior to installation. To examine the mask further; I was not able to fully extend the mask out as the O2 line was tangled and wrapped in and around the expansion rubber bands/straps making it impossible to don the mask if needed. As I was trying to figure out the mask; the oxygen was still continuous flowing trying to inflate the rubber band straps and would not shut off and the rubber bands would not expand so as to be able to put the mask on. Maintenance history showed the mask was replaced the day before and that 2 flights had been flown with the mask in this condition. We made a maintenance write-up and called in the discrepancy to Maintenance. When the mechanic arrived; he too was in disbelief as to what he was seeing. He corrected the 3 issues of the mask. The person who replaced the mask the day before and left the mask in this condition could have seriously impacted the safety of the crew; passengers and plane if there had been a need for the mask for smoke issues; pressurization issues; etc.; and that the Captain would not have been able to don and use the oxygen mask in a timely manner. Our SOP's do not require the removal of the mask from the storage compartment on preflight and [therefore] the 2 prior Captains would not have known the condition of the mask unless taken out of the storage compartment.
B777 Captain reported finding O2 mask in an inoperable condition during preflight.