How do you document a red X on the AFTO 781A?

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What the regulation actually says

Every discrepancy, on the 781A

The AFTO Form 781A documents each discrepancy discovered by aircrew or maintenance personnel, with one standing exception: on discovery of battle damage the finder makes an initial red X entry reading that the aircraft sustained battle damage, and the damage is then tracked on the AFTO Form 97 series instead.

“5.7 AFTO FORM 781A, MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCY AND WORK DOCUMENT. (Figure 5-3 and Figure 5-4). Use the AFTO Form 781A to document each discrepancy discovered by aircrew or maintenance personnel. NOTE EXCEPTION: Upon discovery of battle damage, the finder will make an initial Red X entry in the aircraft’s AFTO Form 781A which reads “Aircraft sustained battle damage, see AFTO Form 97.” From this point, alldiscrepancies resulting from battle damage will be documented on AFTO Form 97/97A. See TO 1-1H-39, forspecific instructions on documenting aerospace vehicle battle damage repairs.”

A red X goes in both places

Discrepancies found during scheduled inspections may be recorded in the maintenance information system, on locally approved lists, or on work control documents — but every red X entry must appear in both the AFTO Form 781A and the MIS.

“5.7.1.3.10.8 Record discrepancies discovered during scheduled inspections directly in the MIS, locally developed/ap- proved lists or WCDs. All Red X entries must be entered in both the AFTO Form 781A and MIS (MIS only for paperlessinspections). All other discrepancies tracked on locally developed lists and/or WCDs that cannot be corrected by the allottedscheduled inspection time, must be transcribed to the MIS with the documents routed with the 781 series forms package andfiled with the inspection historical documents.”

Removed parts get their own entry

Any component removed to facilitate other maintenance is documented as a separate discrepancy with its own red symbol, and this applies even when the item goes straight back on, cross-referenced by job control number or by page and item.

“5.7.1.3.10.9 Any component removed to FOM, will be documented as a separate discrepancy with the appropriate Red symbol entry. This applies even if the item is immediately reinstalled. Reference the original discrepancy using “See JCN__________” and/or “See Page __________, Item __________.” NOTE •EXCEPTION: Procedures that require removal of a component as a step of the task and contain all of the steps for component removal/installation within the same procedure do not need to be documented separately. •EXCEPTION: If the removal to FOM WCEs/WESs are part of the original discrepancy and are listed sequen- tially in the MIS generated AFTO Form 781A, a reference to the original discrepancy is not required.”

Warning tags are tracked separately

Warning tags and engine control box straps are documented on their own red X, as an associated job control number or work control entry, and must match a corresponding AFTO Form 781A and MIS entry.

“5.7.1.3.10.5.3 Documentation. Warning tag(s)/ECB strap(s) will be documented on a separate Red X as either an associated JCN or WCE/WES. Warning tag(s)/ECB strap(s) must match a corresponding AFTO Form 781A and MIS entry. (MIS only for paperless inspections). Warning tags/ECB straps may be grouped providing all tags/straps pertain to the samediscrepancy. NOTE EXCEPTION: Non-discrepancy driven warning tag(s)/ECB strap(s) (i.e. system locked out to perform pre-flight, etc.) will still be documented on a Red X but are not required to match a corresponding AFTO Form 781A andMIS entry.”

One red X for a modification

A modification is documented by a single red X entered or transferred into the 781A, and no concurrent maintenance is performed during it without maintenance group commander approval and agreement from the depot team.

“3.14.1.1.1 A single RED X symbol will be entered or transferred into the AFTO Forms 781A to document the modifica- tion to be performed. No concurrent maintenance will be accomplished during this modification unless previously agreedwith MXG/CC approval and the Depot team.”

Panel removal can be consolidated

Group commanders may develop local panel sheets to record panels removed for an inspection, provided a red X entry in the 781A reflects their use — which avoids a separate red X for every panel and in-process inspection.

“5.7.1.3.10.3.1 For scheduled inspections, GP/CCs have the option of developing local panel sheets to record the removal of panels required by an inspection as long as a Red X entry is made in the AFTO Form 781A which reflects its use. Thiswill preclude a separate Red X entry for each panel/IPI. Local panel sheets contain as a minimum: panel number ornomenclature, name and employee number of individual who removed panel, minimum signature and employee number ofindividual who installed the panel and minimum signature and employee number of individual who performed applicableIPIs. Local panel sheets will be treated the same as aerospace vehicle documents and filed with the inspection historicaldocuments.”

The inspector signs the original

The inspector who completes an in-process inspection records it in the corrective action block of the original discrepancy, naming the task or step complied with, and enters their minimum signature there rather than opening a new entry.

“5.7.1.3.10.6.1 The IPI inspector who completes the IPI will indicate completion of the IPI(s) in the CORRECTIVE ACTION block of the original discrepancy by stating, “Required IPI (insert IPI task title or IPI description or IPI stepnumber) complied with” and enter minimum signature in the CORRECTIVE ACTION block. If more than one IPI isrequired to complete the task, IPI inspector must identify number of IPIs in corrective action block such as, “Three requiredIPIs (insert IPI task title or IPI description or IPI step number of three IPIs) complied with.” If there is no room in theCORRECTIVE ACTION block, the IPI inspector will document IPIs as a separate entry in the AFTO Form 781A orappropriate work package. Place the IPI(s) on a Red X and reference the page and item number of the original discrepan-cy(s). When an IPI is documented as a separate entry, the IPI inspector will indicate”… (paragraph continues in the PDF)

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