No Aircraft
Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I'm reporting an event; that I have used LED Ultra-Violet (UV) lamps as a Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) Inspector in the past two years since I've been in the [Inspection] Shop; knowing the Operations Manual [said] that we could not use them; but thought Engineering Variance was covering it. Maintenance Inspector.
I am reporting an event because I became aware of the Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) Inspectors use of LED Ultraviolet lights on engine components were not approved; need an Engineering Variance.  I used at various times that type of equipment for Non-Destructive Testing / FPI crack checks. Maintenance Inspector.
Two Aircraft Maintenance Inspectors report using unapproved LED Ultraviolet (UV) lamps for Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) of Engine components for approximately two years; believing an Engineering Variance had been issued to allow use of the LED UV lamps.