Originally Posted by
TURIN
I've just read the entire report.
From an LAEs point of view.
The certifying LAE says that he knew they were fitted and noticed them on his walk round but then forgot about them? What about the 'mandatory' open log book entry? Reading between the lines he didn't log it.
The report states the following (p.3):
At 2045 the AMSA support engineer arrived at the aircraft carrying a set of pitot probe covers, which are commonly used in Brisbane to prevent mud wasp infestation. The support engineer moved an access stand (moveable ladder/platform) to the nose of the aircraft and fitted the pitot probe covers. Ribbons attached to each of the pitot probe covers were visible on the CCTV recording. The support engineer then moved the access stand away and proceeded to the flight deck.
At 2047 the support engineer arrived on the flight deck. According to interviews with the LAE and support engineer, their discussion was brief. The support engineer reported telling the LAE (who was checking aircraft records at the time) that pitot probe covers were fitted to the aircraft. According to the support engineer, the LAE did not acknowledge what had been said, or make an entry in the technical log for the fitment of pitot probe covers (which the support engineer normally expected). The support engineer did not question this.
The LAE had not been aware of the common and recommended practice for the use of pitot probe covers at Brisbane Airport. The LAE stated that it was not normal practice to fit them during transits and later did not recall the support engineer advising of their fitment during the turnaround. The LAE also stated that, had they known pitot probe covers were fitted at that point, they would have either made an entry in the aircraft's technical log that the pitot probe covers were fitted, or told the support engineer to remove them.
It also states (p.4):
The LAE then conducted the external inspection component of the walk-around transit check beginning at 2054 (this component will be referred to as the ‘engineering maintenance walk-around inspection')...The LAE reported noticing the pitot probe covers fitted to the aircraft at the time the nose area was inspected and intended to talk to the support engineer about them. As the support engineer was still absent from the aircraft retrieving supplies, the LAE decided to continue with the engineering maintenance walk-around inspection. The next interaction between the LAE and support engineer was ten minutes later. The LAE, busy with continuing the engineering maintenance walk-around inspection through that period, forgot about the pitot probe covers.
It sounds as the support engineer told the certifying engineer about the pitot covers immediately after they were fitted, but the certifying engineer was busy and didn’t take in what was said. Consequently, no tech log entry was made. The certifying engineer noticed the covers during his subsequent walk-around, but then forgot about them.