Date: 201208
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A320
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Wheels/Tires/Brakes
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Other Person
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure; Manuals; Logbook Entry
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: While waiting to board the arriving A320 aircraft in ZZZ to operate flight to ZZZ1; FAA Inspector indicated that he rode the jumpseat from ZZZ1 and that an excerpt from the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) was in the back of the logbook regarding Task 32-42-27-210. This appears to be a job card to 'Check Heat Pack Wear indicator' (Parking Break Applied) and has a hand written highlighted notation on the top indicating; 'Aircraft missing # 4 Brake Wear Pin; see Page-3 for note saying it's OK'. The note on page three says; 'NOTE: the brake units usually have two wear pins. If you find a brake that does not have the two wear pins: -the brake is serviceable if there is one wear pin and the wear pin is in the limits. You must deactivate the brake if there is no wear pin. (reference AMM TASK 32-42-00-040). My impression is that this Note on Page-3 indicates that it's still 'OK' to perform the Inspection Task per the approved AMM and has no bearing on accepting an aircraft as airworthy prior to flight with a Brake Wear Indicator pin missing. Normally the CDL would be consulted for continued operation with a missing part but no listing is indicated there; nor the MEL; nor the NEF; and the AMM excerpt in the back of the Logbook does not constitute an Engineering Authorization (E/A) as per FOM Volume-1. FAA Inspector indicated that in his conversation with the PMI; every Captain should be entering a Maintenance discrepancy in the logbook since no relief is given per our Air Carrier approved procedures for continued operation with this missing item. I contacted Maintenance Control to indicate I would be entering the discrepancy before operating flight to ZZZ1. The Maintenance Controller seemed a little annoyed but said that he would arrange for a mechanic to address the write-up prior to departure. I cannot tell from the prior logbook pages when this became an issue; but the prior Captain said he thought it has been more than a week. I would concur; since no indication was found in the logbook pages present in the logbook indicating a discrepancy regarding the missing brake wear indicator pin. Did the Maintenance Department find this missing part or did a pilot find it on the exterior inspection? And how does the aircraft continue to be dispatched in this manner? And does the AMM have any bearing on the continued operation of the aircraft? [Recommend] properly applying Maintenance and Flight operations procedures for the continued airworthiness of the aircraft and answer the following questions: When did the Maintenance Department find this missing part or did a pilot find it on the exterior inspection? And how does the aircraft continue to be dispatched in this manner? And does the AMM have any bearing on the continued operation of the aircraft in this manner?




Synopsis: An FAA Inspector informs an A320 Captain he should be entering a Maintenance discrepancy in their logbook since no relief is given per their air carrier approved procedures for continued operation with a missing Brake Wear Indicator pin.