Jetstar 330 grounded 3 days after returning from overseas maintenance in Manilla

[Black Hands]

Mr Hotdog, point noted with regards to the fact that a leaking door pressurisation seal or incorrectly installed door sill scuff plate would not cause any significant a/c depressurisation. However, I am eluding to the the point that any a/c component incorrectly installed by an individual inadequately trained or supervised due to the "cost effective" supervisory structure and work practices of a particular maintenance organisation, in conjuction with an over sight in SOP, obviously has the potential for disasterous results...
If you could please refer to jet noseover's post of 22.03.07 titled "QANTAS FLIES WITHOUT EMERGENCY OXYGEN" you may well concur with my statement.
Cheers...

[U.K. SUBS.]

Hot dog you're spot on. Depressurising the cabin....no, as you correctly said the outflow valves will modulate to maintain cabin px. The whole intent was to as black hands correctly stated was the swiss cheese model and it does beg the question 'How close is QF to a hull loss'. Why I gave the oxy and door seal a go was about ten years ago a 74 made an atb. The upper deck door px seal gave way and fogged up the upper deck. The tech crew wore oxy masks for the return trip home.

[HotDog]

Yes Black Hands, I do concur. Three areas to blame. The maintenace facility, the fully licensed Qantas maintenace quality inspectors and lastly, the operating crew. It does not matter where you go, human beings will continue to make mistakes.

[ZK-NSJ]

i can just see it now, a tube of sellys all-clear and a caulking gun by each door

[HotDog]

The upper deck door px seal gave way and fogged up the upper deck. The tech crew wore oxy masks for the return trip home.

I presume they also lifted the guard on the Passenger Oxygen control panel and switched from Normal to On, deploying the rubber jungle in the cabin and carrying out an emergency descent to 10,000'.

[U.K. SUBS.]

From memory, no. Evacuated the upper deck. That's all.

[priapism]

A letter to the editor published in this morning's Herald Sun under the heading "IN FLIGHT JET SCREAM"

.." I have just got off a Jetstar flight from Bangkok where problems with a cabin door seal 10 minutes after takeoff resulted in a siren-like scream for the next eight hours.
No explanation was given at the time , just some headphones supplied to drown it out (which it didn't , and the music volume hurt after that).
The Flight attendants wore heavy duty ear muffs in the galley.
This is the exact same service from Bangkok that was forced to land at Bali a week earlier because of engine failure.
I was told after I got off the flight that it was safe ; the door wasn't going to blow out , but my ears are still ringing."

Benjamin Doudney, Fitzroy.

[U.K. SUBS.]

Hotdog et all, here's something Australian engineers take more seriously than others.
MECHANICS CREED
"Upon My Honor, I swear that I shall hold in sacred trust the rights and privileges conferred upon me as a certified mechanic. Knowing full well that the safety and lives of others are dependent upon my skill and judgement, I shall never knowingly subject others to risks which I would not be willing to assume for myself, or those dear to me. In discharging this trust, I pledge myself never to undertake work or approve work which I feel to be beyond the limits of my knowledge, nor shall I allow any non-certified superior to pursuade me to approve aircraft or equipment as airworthy against my better judgement, nor shall I permit my judgement to be influenced by money or other personal gain, nor shall I pass as airworthy aircraft or equipment about which I am in doubt, either as a result of direct inspection or uncertainty regarding the ability of others who have worked on it to accomplish their work satisfactorily. I realise the grave responsibility which is mine as a certified airman, to exercise my judgement on the airworthiness of aircraft and equipment. I therefore, pledge unyielding adherence to these precepts for the advancement of aviation and for the dignity of my vocation.

developed by flight safety

[mahatmacoat]

It may be fortunate that the incorrectly installed door sill was easily identified by the horrified pax and cabin crew. What else did they install incorrectly? Apart from the oxy bottle wired closed, didn't they forget to connect one of the crapper pipes only a few months ago? Hope those flight controls were rigged up properly but no need to worry there is a good chance they will be ok.

[Hardworker]

A330

And the person totally responsible for the outsourcing of all the C (A330) & D (744) Checks as a cost saving exercise and a bonus enhancement for himself is one person, Mr Cox....
Bonus before Schedule and Safety...
No doubt he will say the safe of the aircraft was never in question....it is ironic, so far only the most noticeable visual defects have been found, how long before a Swiss cheese hidden defect results in a more prominate emergency incident....Quality is something that Qantas management no longer seem to value at all.....bonus incentives seem to be the driving factor!

[Black Hands]

Perhaps the QANTAS catch cry of "safety is our priority", would be more accurate if it read "safety is risk assessed vs airline profitability and the annual bonus of E&M's executive manager"... a little longer, but still catchy.

[Managers Perspective]

Can anyone explain exactly what the defect was?
Was the sill bent or distorted?
Was there a sealant void under the sill?
Was there a missing fastener?
Was there a void in the door seal?
Has anyone here got the facts or are we all whipping it up into a safety case again?
Sounds like the aircraft "flew" fine.
MP.

['holic]

are we all whipping it up into a safety case again?

If you're talking about the emergency lighting, no need to 'whip up' anything with that one. The photos speak for themselves. Would you repair your Datsun 180B or whatever it is you drive in such a manner?

Sounds like the aircraft "flew" fine.

Yep, I agree. Just like the aircraft fly fine without an IFE. But how many customers in either case will be back to fly Qantas/Jetstar again? Wouldn't the company be better off if they .. just taking a wild stab in the dark here .. carried out the correct maintenance on the aircraft? Then we won't end up with empty flights that "flew fine".

[Hardworker]

A330

Facts, VH-EBC Jetstar

1. Aircraft Departed Manillia from quote "one of the top 10 MRO's after a C check

2. Ferry flight to SYD crew advised of excessive noise in cabin from door area.

3. Jetstar pressured to have serviceable due to no other aircraft replacement available.

4. EA covering air leak from door area so aircraft could meet operational requirements.

5. Aircraft flew Syd - Bkk noise was excessive and unbearable by pax and cabin crew

6. Aircraft declared unserviceable and flown to MEL for maintenance

7. Aircraft spent 3 days on ground and was test flown - door sill stainless steel panel incorrectly fitted on C check

8. BSS Bonus before safety and schedule

[Managers Perspective]

Plenty of operational fact there.

But in relation to:

door sill stainless steel panel incorrectly fitted on C check

Was the sill bent or distorted?
Was there a sealant void under the sill?
Was there a missing fastener?
Was there a void in the door seal?
Has anyone here got the facts or are we all whipping it up into a safety case again?

MP.

[cementhead]

If its not fitted in accordance with approved data it is WRONG
it can fail to be fitted correctly for many reasons
It is a poor reflection on the people who let this go

[NAS1801]

Managers Perspective.... take your rod, reel and tackle box and place it in the boot of your car and drive away please. You are a TROLL.

[U.K. SUBS.]

M.P. Last week the exec. general manager J. Borghetti said on ABC, that SAFETY was 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th for the airline (and the group). You have to understand that QF places a premium on that and prices its tickets with that knowledge. With the events, maintenance related, from the beginning of this year the PERCEPTION of safety at the QF group has taken a hit, there is no doubt about that.
One saying from Stelios Hadjou (suspect spelling). Hear this David Cox

IF YOU THINK MAINTENANCE IS EXPENSIVE, TRY HAVING AN ACCIDENT.

[Managers Perspective]

Surely someone must have some facts.

Or are we all just climbing on the wagon again?

MP.

[chockchucker]

Give yourself an uppercut M.P.


The facts as reported in Hardworkers post are spot on.


Another thing bean-counters never understand: you only get what you pay for.