MD-11
Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Aircraft; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors
April 2014; Aircraft X; an MD-11 aircraft. It was my day off in ZZZZ; but I got a call from Lead Mechanic X in the morning for supporting Aircraft X; an MD-11 aircraft. I got [to] the office late morning; then Lead Mechanic X asked me to go to Air Carrier X's hangar in ZZZZ. I reviewed the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) and found we need a special tool for disconnecting Side Brace from Downlock Link Assembly [such as] as Bushing Puller Kit; I talked [about] it to Lead Mechanic X.  Early afternoon; the MD-11 aircraft arrived at Air Carrier Y's ZZZZ hangar. Then I removed access panels for jacking pad then jack up for Left-Hand (L/H) [Main Landing Gear] side. After jack up; Lead Mechanic X asked me to remove two retainers to disconnect Side Brace bushing; so I removed; then told him. He [Lead Mechanic X]; tried to remove the bushing at the time but it wasn't easy to remove it. He look at the bushing for a second then he went up for tighten the Side Brace fitting bolts.Lead Mechanic X asked me to reinstall the retainer; so I reinstalled the retainers; made it done. Actually I brought my tool box for the work so I was [at] bottom of the aircraft and look for the tools what they need. I saw one bolt was easy to get it so they tight and torque the bolt; but the other one got a problem that they told me it is not enough space; so they need some tools for tight. So Lead Mechanic X asked me to find out [about] tools with Air Carrier Y's Coordinator. Then I went to the Tool Room but they didn't have any tools for it; so I got back then told him [Lead Mechanic X] about it. Then I went again [to] the Tool Room for returning the tool because I used a tool for removing the retainers from Air Carrier Y's [Tool Room]; then back to our MD-11 aircraft. But they were doing something up there I saw them; but they were using the improper tool (Vise Grip Plier) to tight the bolt; I was not sure the bolt tight enough because I was on the bottom of Aircraft X; I thought that was not right. We arranged the hangar space for work so have to do something right but it wasn't. He [Lead Mechanic X] tightened the bolt; then he asked me to [lower] down the L/H Side Jack. We towed Aircraft X. Early evening; the aircraft got back to the Gate and Lead Mechanic X asked me to do Service Check; so I did it; then got off about two hours later; after I done the Service Check. Most of time; I spent the time for the tool; so I'm not sure what happen up there [at side brace].  I think we were not following the AMM and not using correct tools for the work.  In [my] culture; we could not say anything when the Lead Mechanic made decision; just follow him/her till work done. [Recommend] I think we need to check with AMM for special materials. We must get the proper materials than follow the AMM. It is important that using the correct tools and the procedure for safety. Delay time is not important when the aircraft is down to ground; we need to use right tools and procedure for the aircraft flight safe. Days.
It was my regular day off in ZZZZ. I got a call from Lead Mechanic X early in the morning.  He asked me for overtime. I came to the office late morning and got to know the situation of our company's MD-11 aircraft; Aircraft X. Late afternoon; we arrived at Air Carrier Y's local hangar with our company MD-11 aircraft.  We jacked up the aircraft to torque the [Side] Brace fitting bolts.  We torqued one bolt with a torque wrench per Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 32-13-06-04; but we couldn't torque the other bolt. Because there was no space and we had no available tools for removing the [Main] Landing Gear (MLG) Side Brace at that time. Lead Mechanic X ordered us to tighten the bolt with Vise-Grip pliers by alternate methods. I knew it was not proper method. But I understood he got an approval from Maintenance Control to fly the MD-11 to the next Station for repairing that. Dayshift.  I:  1) DID NOT FOLLOW THE CORRECT PROCEDURES IN MANUALS. 2) DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TOOLS FOR WORKS. 3) [Followed] THE WRONG DIRECTIONS OF LEAD MECHANIC X.  [Recommend to] FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN MANUALS!!!
Two Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) report they did not follow procedures in their Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM); had listened to the wrong instructions from their Lead Mechanic and did not have the correct tools to accomplish a re-torque of the Left Main Landing Gear (MLG) Side Brace Downlock Link Assembly on a company MD-11 aircraft.