B737-800
Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
I was assigned to Aircraft X. Per flight crew request of an open Aircraft Maintenance Logbook item of possible right wing overheat condition. When I arrived at the aircraft; the flight deck was occupied by the flight crew. After conferring with the flight crew and reviewing the log book; it was determined an inspection of the right hand wing leading edge flaps was required to check for possible damage. The flight crew agreed to operate the flight controls while we technicians positioned ourselves under the wing. Only after I established communication with the flight crew through wireless headset did I ask the flight crew to extend the leading edge flaps to full extension. We were under the right wing facing forward monitoring the movement of the leading edge flaps preparing for our inspection of the leading edge of the right wing. Moments later we heard a noise. We then noticed that the trailing edge flaps had continued to extend. The noise we heard was the sound of the flap track fairing tail cone coming in contact with the safety railing of our maintenance vehicle. We did not intend for the trailing edge flaps to be extended and were unaware that the trailing edge flaps were being lowered behind us. I communicated to the crew immediately to stop flap movement upon becoming aware of this damage.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
Maintenance technicians reported that after requesting the flight crew to lower the leading edge flaps; the trailing edge flaps were also extended; making contact with ground equipment.