A319
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Manuals; Procedure
On the walk around I found a fastener missing at the corner #1 position on a large belly panel just inboard of the pack inlet. Contract station Maintenance was unable to get a fastener to take hold in the slot; so they consulted with Maintenance Control who issued a configuration deviation for the missing fastener and issued our new Maintenance Release. I was surprised that the missing fastener was was ble to deferred; since I had encountered almost the same situation about six months ago; where it was later found to be non-deferrable. I reported that situation also. It was closed as no further action required (and no info back to me). In the current situation; upon arrival at our next maintenance station; I went to Maintenance Control and spoke to a Maintenance Controller; and I showed him the Maintenance Release and a photo of the location of the missing fastener. He looked in the AMM and could not understand how that missing fastener could have legally been deferred. The Controller held the outbound flight to insure that the fastener was replaced immediately. I then went to the Maintenance Representative and showed him the same information. He looked in the AMM and agreed that it appeared to be an illegal deferral. He said he would contact the main Maintenance Control Controller who deferred it; would try to figure out why that happened; and would call me (no contact yet; two days later). I said I was filing report and asked that he share that with the Controller.
The Reporter stated that his aircraft type was an A319. Additionally; he has seen this type event more than once and at one point his carrier issued a safety alert that missing fasteners must be replace and that covering them with speed tape was not acceptable; as occurred in several instances. The Reporter's belief was that the mechanics simply desired to get the aircraft out of their station but the problem does appear to be systemwide since it has occurred repeatedly.
An A319 was released at the departure station with a belly fuselage fastener loose but at the next station was grounded until the fastener could be replaced and secured. The previous release was deemed illegal.