MD-11
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Manuals; Procedure
I was assigned the APU perf. [work card] and my partner had a couple of air related [work cards] to complete also. Being the Number 2 Tail dock was installed I asked one of the mechanics that was assigned to the Number 2 Eng (Engine) if it was ok to run the APU while they went on break; he said sure. Another mechanic asked me to motor Number 1 and Number 3 engines for leak check and that it was ok to put the fire handles to the normal position. I asked another mechanic if I could put the flaps up; he cleared me to put the flaps up so as I entered the flt (Flight) deck I scanned all the lockout tags and noticed a couple on a fuel pump. I and the normal ones we put on every weekend. I put the Number 1 and Number 3 fire handles to normal and was trying to clear the interface message in CFDS (Centralized Fault Display System) my partner suggested to put the Number 2 fire handle up so I looked at the lockout tag on it and on one side it was labeled Number 1 and Number 3 eng serv (Engine Service). On the opposite side it said Number 2 hydraulic manifold so since no other hydraulics were locked out I figured it was completed also we had no issues when putting the flaps up so I removed it and put the Number 2 fire handle to normal. At this time I proceeded to start the APU; as I was 1 minute into the start we heard people yelling turn it off so my partner pulled the APU fire handle and started to walk out of the flight deck to see the issue then he said pull the fire handle which I did. I immediately turned off the battery and secured the flight deck then went down to help contain the spill as were a few other mechanics. After talking to the other mechanics I found out the fuel control (pump) was removed from the engine and the fuel line capped and stowed. On the side of the engine this line was the origin of the leak.
MD-11 Maintenance Technician reported overlooking the lockout tags on cockpit fuel pump switch and started the APU causing fuel leak.