B757-200
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Technician 10
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; MEL; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) called Maintenance Control to MEL a damaged uplock spring on B757 aircraft as per MEL 32-32-01. I reviewed the MEL requirements with the Technician and asked if the spring was removed to comply with the MEL. Technician confirmed the uplock spring was removed and I then issued the MEL.Aircraft departed; upon arrival Local Maintenance reported that there was a missing downlock spring on the right Main Landing Gear (MLG). I asked the Technician to send me a photograph of missing downlock spring to confirm what was reported. I received photo of the downlock spring and took the aircraft out of service.[I] placed aircraft 'Out of Service' once it was reported that the downlock spring was removed instead of the uplock spring. [I then] had the correct spring and tooling sent for installation of the downlock spring. MEL 32-32-01 does not include an illustration [for] the uplock spring for identification purposes.
December 2013; I was inspecting the aircraft per ETOPS Pre-Departure Check (PDC) for flight to ZZZZ. During the inspection; I found a broken spring on right Main Landing Gear (MLG). I referenced the MEL for this item which was MEL 32-32-01 for the MLG uplock spring. I contacted Maintenance Control to place on MEL which was granted and the aircraft departed. The MEL does not contain an illustration which would have clarified the spring.  I have reviewed the GMM; Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and Maintenance Manuals (M/M); and also the MEL.
A Maintenance Controller reports he took a B757-200 ETOPS aircraft 'Out of Service' after being informed that a downlock spring had been removed instead of a broken uplock spring he had placed on an MEL. An Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) also reports that a lack of an Illustration in MEL 32-32-01 contributed to his misidentifying the downlock spring as the uplock spring.