Commercial Fixed Wing
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors
Today Aircraft X called after push out that fluid was observed dripping out of #1 engine by baggage handlers. I sent two mechanics out to the plane. Supervisor went out on his own. Unbeknownst to me the flight crew ran the engine and the mechanics observed hydraulic fluid dripping out of the drain mast at the rate of 1 drop every 8 seconds. They came in and updated me. I pulled up the drain mast inspection MM 71-XX-XX and gave it to them. A few minutes later [Supervisor] came in and said the plane taxiied out. Since the plane had no entry in the logbook and we weren't sure of the limits I demanded the plane return to the gate. [Supervisor] said if I wanted the plane back I had to call myself. I tried raising the plane on the radio to no avail. I told [Supervisor] I was filing a report for the plane leaving illegally. At first he didn't care but then came running back claiming he called Tech to have the plane return. I advised [Supervisor] that if the plane returned I would delete the report. However; the plane took off.
Maintenance Technician reported aircraft departed after fluid was observed dripping from aircraft engine drain mast.