A319
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 11500; Flight Crew Type 4500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
Number 1 Engine leak found on walk around by [flight] crew. Maintenance Control and Station notified. Maintenance Control wanted an engine run to check for leaks; crew agreed and was given a safety briefing by Maintenance Control. I then reviewed with the Contract Mechanic what was going to happen and safety issues; including that Maintenance Control's instructions were; after engine was stable at idle; it was to be run for 3-5 minutes. Started engine and when idle reached [I] started clock; at 0:40 seconds the Mechanic said to shut down engine. I thought he had found the leak so I shut it down and stopped the clock at 0:57 seconds. He returned to the cockpit and said all was good; no leak. I asked why he didn't let the engine run for the required amount of time? He replied that he did. I pointed to my clock and said he clearly did not. Did I want to do it again? Yes. This time I asked a pass riding company Mechanic if he would assist and make sure everything was done properly. On second engine run; the leak became clearly visible about the three minute mark. Flight cancelled.
Reporter stated the aircraft was an A319 and the oil leak involved the engine starter oil seals on a V-2500 engine. The Contract Mechanic was fully aware of the required 3-5 minute engine run time after engine idle was stable to verify possible location of the oil leak. The Contract Mechanic had no explanation for directing him (Captain/Reporter) to shut down the engine after less than one minute of idle run. Reporter stated if he had not challenged the Contract Mechanic to perform another engine run; using Maintenance Control's criteria of a 3-5 minute leak check; he could have had a more serious engine oil loss on takeoff or in flight and had to divert. The flight was canceled due to excessive oil leaking noted during the second engine run and parts had to be flown in from one of their maintenance bases.
A Captain reports about a Contract Maintenance Mechanic who did not perform a full three to five minute Engine Run on their A319 aircraft to determine cause of an oil leak found under # 1 Engine by the flight crew during a walkaround. Flight was canceled after second engine run due to excessive oil leaking and lack of parts.