B737-700
Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
A butane soldering iron was inadvertently left onboard a B737-700 aircraft following maintenance (Cabin Mod) in ZZZ. The tool was left above the aft cabin ceiling immediately forward of the access panel for the FDR. Distractions from other maintenance being performed in the aft cabin and galley area most likely caused me to eventually close the access panel before a Final Inspection of the area. The tool was discovered missing the following night. The aircraft terminated in ZZZ1 that night. Maintenance Control was contacted; who then directed Contract Maintenance at that station to remove the tool from the aircraft. The tool was found and removed. [Suggest] inventory of tools following maintenance and inspection of all opened areas; access panels; etc. prior to close.
An Aircraft Maintenance Technician reports he inadvertently left a butane soldering iron above the aft cabin ceiling on a B737-700 aircraft during a cabin modification.