B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
It would seem I am the only Pilot; writing up this particular item (Cowling Strake/Vortex generator erosion/moisture seal for the 737-700 and -800). On one out of ten preflights; I have this condition. (The forward portion of the silicone seal is completely eroded away/missing.) I have been told by Maintenance and Captains; 'It's OK!' When written up; it generally causes a significant delay which could be averted if Company had an MEL or other procedure to deal with this item other than Engineering creating a Maintenance note an hour later.When this seal erodes; precipitation enters the cavity between the strake and cowling and then freezes in a confined space. If this seal was not important; the manufacturer would have omitted it from design. Because it is there; then I am required by the Company 737 AOM to observe that area on a preflight. The last time this happened; I caught it from the Mechanic for having him check it out. He sent pictures to Engineering which grounded the aircraft until they created a Maintenance note (one-hour delay) and then the Captain was angry and that caused a verbal confrontation on the flight deck and he invited the FO to leave the aircraft.....wow really? The next leg at a Crew Base; I called off of the trip which was the first time in 26 years of professional flying.The Mechanic also took the Captain aside and told him that there is one Pilot in the Company system out there who is writing this item up repeatedly. I should NOT have to feel GUILTY about finding an item on an aircraft that has worn beyond limits. At my previous airline; this item was a five-minute paperwork fix and we were back on our way! Because Company Maintenance does not have a procedure on hand to address this particular issue; it should not be a potential detriment to my aviation career. Get Company Maintenance to address this issue and fix it before it becomes a problem. (How hard is that?) Put a picture of a worn/bad seal on the walk around video
B737 First Officer reports being admonished by his Captain and a Maintenance Technician for reporting an eroded silicone seal on the engine cowl strake resulting in a delay.