Cessna 150
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Technician 2
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Manuals; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Human Factors
After removing the nose wheel pants [fairings] under supervision of a Mechanic who had previously done the work; we did not reinstall the fork bolt; which passes through the fork and strut together and also holds the wheel pants on. The reason for leaving it off was that with the wheel pants removed; the bolt was too large; and according to the Cessna Service Manual; it was 'the bolt securing cover plate and fairing to strut.' I flew the airplane following Maintenance without difficulty prior to returning the aircraft to service. After the flight; the aircraft was returned to service; but a later look at the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) showed that this bolt connects the fork and strut together in addition to the press fit of the fork and strut. The airplane was beginning its taxi to the runway when we called it back to the hangar and reinstalled the bolt. The fact that I checked the IPC after the Maintenance [work] indicates that I failed to clear my doubts of the work I did. While I did follow the Cessna Service Manual instructions; I should have been referencing the IPC along with the Service Manual before returning the aircraft to service. A contributing factor was the failure of the supervising Mechanic to thoroughly check my work since this was my first time working on a nose wheel.
Reporter stated the Cessna 150 Service Manual does not direct the Mechanic to also look at the IPC that would show a more detailed view of the nose gear fork and strut assembly along with the fork bolt.
A Mechanic working under supervision of another Mechanic; reports he failed to reinstall a fork bolt that secures the fork and strut assembly including the nose wheel pants on a Cessna 150 aircraft.