Date: 202007
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: ATR 42
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Cargo / Freight / Delivery
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Aircraft Logbook(s)
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Other / Unknown; Other / Unknown
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Detector: Person Maintenance
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Company Policy; Logbook Entry; Manuals; Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: [The Company] requested us to do an ad hoc flight from ZZZ1 - ZZZ and back to ZZZ1. [The] notification [was] sent out by [Dispatch] on [the] 3rd shift turnover at XA25. Departure was set for XE30 from ZZZ1. At XA45; [Dispatch] advised in email notification that the crew had been advised and release was sent. I was at home and the Maintenance Control Supervisor called me on my cell phone at XK38 to explain that the ad hoc flight had taken a delay leaving ZZZ1; and the crew no longer had enough time to make the return trip to ZZZ1 without exceeding their duty day.We discussed solutions. I told him I would call him back - I wanted to look at the GMM (General Maintenance Manual) for reference. I called [the Maintenance Control Supervisor] back at XK59 and told him that I would approve a Short-Term Escalation for the Line Check that was due at midnight. I approved the Short Term escalation based on the fact that the ad hoc flight was scheduled to go ZZZ1 - ZZZ - ZZZ1 with only a brief layover in ZZZ. It has been fueled for the round trip to eliminate the need for fueling in ZZZ. The aircraft was scheduled to return to ZZZ well prior to midnight.Unbeknownst to myself; the aircraft had a fuel delay leaving ZZZ1 - the fuel truck failed; which resulted in the crew requiring rest in ZZZ prior to the return trip. The aircraft had originally been scheduled to return to ZZZ1 well before the Line Check expired; and this was a repo flight back to the hub; therefore not a marketing reason. I also thought of using [another Company's] ZZZ Mechanic; to perform the Line Check prior to departure. However he had not worked on an ATR for us; and although he had been through Indoc training; he was not Airworthiness Release qualified. The Maintenance Controller on duty would have had to talk him through performing the Line Check step-by-step. I felt it was safer to extend the Line Check by a few hours and have it performed by an experienced Mechanic than to have an inexperienced Mechanic perform the check. I; therefore; approved the Short-Term Escalation. Better communication between [Dispatch] and Maintenance Control regarding the maintenance requirements of the aircraft prior to releasing it for the ad hoc flight. Also; once it was realized that the aircraft would not be returning prior to the midnight deadline; Management should have notified in order to plan for the maintenance to be performed. I also would suggest that Maintenance Control look in [the Records System] for maintenance coming due in order to ensure that there was nothing coming due prior to [the] return to the Maintenance base.




Synopsis: Maintenance Director reported authorizing a Short-Term Escalation due to a Line Check expiring at an out station.