A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft; Company Policy
Upon preflight; found aircraft left [overwing] emergency slide panel release pins painted over (forward 2 of 3 pins). This was confirmed by the First Officer; then by Mechanic X. Also; via ACARS; asked Maintenance Control to please reference company Alert Bulletin XXX. Per Alert Bulletin XXX and Engineering Order 25-YYY; paint should be removed from the overwing slide enclosure ball locks. Maintenance removed the paint from the effected areas; and then reported to Captain and First Officer the ball locks were never painted over. Logbook sign-off read; 'ATA Chapter 05-35: Please comply with Engineering Order (E.O.) 25-YYY; inspection of both sides; left/right paint removal from the overwing slide enclosure ball locks.' Suggest Maintenance; as well as the pilot group; could have this information disseminated; to avoid a potentially dangerous situation and to be in compliance with the 2008 Engineering Order and the 2011 Alert Bulletin. The Paint Vendors could be more proactive in not painting over the ball lock release pins.
A Captain reports he found the left overwing emergency exit slide panel release pins painted over during a preflight of an A320 aircraft.