Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
I was informed that a CRJ-700 aircraft had difficulties with the rudder movement through the rudder pedals that had maintenance performed the previous night; March 2014. The event happened at ZZZ and Maintenance discovered rags in the Aft Equipment Bay in the rudder pulleys. The CRJ-700 had a Maintenance Check performed that night; which has an IDG Service required and the need to pull the Engine Ignition Circuit Breaker (CB) out in the Aft Equipment Bay. The Maintenance Check has a sign-off for performing a FOD Inspection in the Aft Equipment Bay. I performed a General Visual Inspection (GVI) of the Aft Equipment Bay; and at that time I did not see any rags The event was brought to my attention by my superiors; informing and questioning my observations of what was looked for and what inspection methods were used. At this current time; I do not know why; or how; the rag got into the Aft Equipment Bay; or why the rag was left behind. Rudder pedals hard to push. [I am a] Maintenance Inspector; Graveyard shift; Line.
An Aircraft Maintenance Inspector reports being questioned about his FOD inspection methods after he had performed a General Visual Inspection (GVI) of the Aft Equipment Bay on a CRJ-700 aircraft. Difficulties with rudder movement through the rudder pedals were later found to be caused by rags in the rudder pulleys.