Date: 201404
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Night
Aircraft: B777-200
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Potable Water Storage; control; indication
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Lead Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Maintenance
When detected: Other During Maintenance
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure; Chart Or Publication; Aircraft; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
Primary problem: Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part

Narrative: A B777-200 aircraft was in [Hangar] Bay inbound work for one of the waste water storage tanks had a broken inlet fitting. There was a [Work] Turnover [Report] from dayshift that the old tank had to be removed and the new tank was in stock from ZZZ1 as Aircraft on Ground (AOG). I ordered the new tank from Stores [Parts] for the mechanics. When they opened the box that the tank came in; there was damage to the new tank. I was never informed about the damage until one of the mechanics; Mechanic X; approached me and informed me that it was damaged and Supervisor X had told him to switch the inlet fitting on the new tank with the old one. At this point I approached Supervisor X and told him that since this inlet fitting was part of the tank that could not be accomplished because it was all one part; not an assembly.I was told multiple times to go ahead and install this new Frankenstein part; but I told everyone that asked me that we needed all the technical data and to see the Engineering Order (E/O) before we could proceed. An E/O was eventually issued by our Engineering; but we received a one page repair [instructions] that began at Step-6.  I notified Supervision [management] that I needed the rest of the technical data before I could make a decision on whether this repair applied to our situation. I left the office and went to inspect the old and new tanks per the one page of the manual [that] I did have and found damage on a mating seal that the repair had you inspect. When I re-entered the shop; I observed Supervisor X talking with Mechanic X and the Mechanic was reading the [one page] sheet I just told Supervisor X we needed the rest of. I questioned the Mechanic and was informed that after I left the room; Supervisor X approached him and told him the repair was good and that it was 'OK' to proceed. I believe this situation could have led to an unserviceable part being installed on the aircraft. The actual Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) calls for testing and certifications to be accomplished to the tank after being repaired. We were being told to do a half procedure; and then install a known bad part with no certification and only a Leak Check being done. Reference material unclear. Missing documentation. [Lead] Mechanic.




Synopsis: A Lead Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) reports about his Maintenance Supervisor's attempts to influence another mechanic to remove an inlet fitting from a new waste water storage tank to replace an inlet fitting found damaged on a B777-200 aircraft. Lack of required testing and certification of the repaired storage tank inlet fitting would have made the waste water tank unserviceable and not airworthy.