S-76/S-76 Mark II
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Inspection Authority; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Inspector 20
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy
During compliance with an Alert Service Bulletin with a calendar and hour limit; only partial compliance was performed on three Part 135 aircraft. The Service Bulletin states to perform and Non-Destructive/Visual Inspection on the main rotor spindle cuff assembly and then to apply a white paint to enhance the existing inspections. The Non-Destructive Inspections were performed; but the paint application was not; even though the log entry states the paint was applied. This was brought to the Director of Maintenance and Shop Foreman's attention in the form of verbal communication and written notification on two occasions. The Director of Maintenance ignored both notices and the Shop Foreman stated it was a waste of time. The aircraft were returned to service without the paint application as required by the Alert Service Bulletin. If a defect appears after the Non-Destructive Inspection; it may not be apparent during the required inspections. Any paint application after flight where a defect may occur may mask the defect and prevent the discovery by visual inspection. Since the aircraft has flown since the Non-Destructive Inspection; this inspection will have to be repeated prior to the application of the paint.
The reporter indicates that he notified company personnel that a step in the Service Bulletin procedure has not been accomplished.