MBB-BK 117 All Series
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Manuals; Procedure; Aircraft
While at the maintenance hangar; where a BK-117C1 [Eurocopter] was undergoing routine scheduled maintenance work; it was brought to my attention by our Lead Mechanic that there was an Engineering Order issued by Company Engineering May 2015 for the aircraft; regarding a Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) from the Engine Manufacture (Turbomeca) issued March 2015 requiring a Daily Visual Check of the Engine Front Support pins after the last flight of the day and subsequently [the need to] make a Logbook entry regarding the completion and result of the inspection. Also required; was a more Detailed Maintenance Check of the mount that should be completed every 15 hours with an accompanying compliance Logbook entry. A Visual Check of that pin was performed as a part of the normal Daily Aircraft Preflight Inspection. The information regarding the change to require the Logbook entry specified by Company E/O (Engineering Order) for the MSB (Mandatory Service Bulletin) was never disseminated; addressed; nor included in the Pilot Maintenance Servicing Training (PMST). There was no information provided via the Company Form or the [outside] Contracted Maintenance Compliance Tracking Systems about this Inspection Logbook entry requirement; nor was it listed on the Pilot Maintenance Servicing Procedures (PMSP) Training Checklist and Signoff Forms. After further discussions and searching; it was discovered that the procedure narrative had been added to the PMSP program; but not followed through and included in the Checklist/Signoff Form. After becoming aware of this; I inquired further with our Maintenance and Aircraft Compliance Staff regarding this and any specific training that may be required for us to do the inspection and Logbook entry. Our BK [Aircraft] Compliance Staff was aware of this procedure for the BK-117C2 (or EC-145) with these engines; but since the company had only a couple of the C1 versions of the Model affected; the information didn't get to the Operators by the usual system process; resulting in that none of the Line or Compliance pilots operating this Aircraft were aware of the requirements of the Company's E/O; and so none of the required Logbooks showing the completion of the checks were made for the period of the effective date until discovered.The result; is that due to not being advised and my not being aware of the requirement of Company E/O; I did not comply with logging entries for the checks on the dates that a last flight of the day inspection Logbook entry would have been required. After the mistake was identified by our Lead Mechanic and myself; we moved to resolve the issue before further in service [of affected aircraft] and advised the Regional Maintenance Management and Compliance Staff and the steps [that] were taken to correct the issue.Improve the proofing and communications process for the initiating of new procedures and their integration into the company procedures and implementation into company policy and practice.
An employee reports he was informed by their Lead Mechanic that a Mandatory Service Bulletin inspection of Engine Front Support Pins issued by the engine manufacturer for their BK-117C1 Eurocopters also included a logbook entry requirement after the last flight of the day. The logbook entry requirement had not been included in the pilot maintenance checklist/signoff form from their company.