Date: 202111
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Taxi
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Ground ZZZ
Aircraft component: Other Documentation
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Lead Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Human factors: Workload; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Second reporter function: Technician
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Maintenance
When detected: Other Records Check
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Aircraft X came in to ZZZ for overnight maintenance. A work package was created and Maintenance performed the work on the Company Form. I received a turnover to comply with leak checks for both engines to complete the A-Check which was on the work package from the previous night. After completing the leak checks I was asked by my Supervisor on duty to sign off the Airworthiness Release. I reviewed the Company Form and the AML for completion and double check both before actually signing the AR (Airworthiness Release) for Aircraft X on DATE. I signed the AR based off my knowledge for completion of the Company Form and AML. I was spoken to 2 days after the event took place. PS: the plane flew 6 legs before the Air Return occurred.Rushing to get the AC out on time.I spoke with both my Operational and Base Manager on the events that took place that day. They agreed with me that I'm not at fault for this situation base on my information.We need a better turnover process and communication. Also; we need to slow down while complying with the paperwork with Maintenance Procedures.


Second narrative: On DATE Aircraft X was down for an item that needed to be complied with and ops check/leak checks for the A-check. I thought that the Technicians had already accomplished the tow collar replacement in completion because when I came in that morning I saw the Technicians from overnight shift working on the tow collar. After closing up the aircraft and looking over the documents I saw a NRWC (Non Routine Work Card) that was not signed off; job card missing and job card was not added to the Company Form when the job card was printed. I left a note for the next shift to ensure that the Technicians that worked on it will sign it off the NRWC when they got back in that night. I did not see any continuation cards/job card for the work that the Technicians had done from over night therefore I had thought that they had forgotten to sign off the work. If I had seen the job card for tow collar replacement not completed I would've had Technicians complete the job.I was made aware of the situation by my Base Manager.The cause for this event is paperwork accountability from my part. I had seen the Technicians perform the task but was unaware that it was not completed due to the job card being missing. In the future I will not assume any task is completed until the proper documents are signed off.When I was notified of the issue DATE 1 I was told that the job card was found around the hangar. A spot where paperwork should not be kept after completion or still needing completion. In hindsight if I knew a job card was still open I would not have released the aircraft.


Synopsis: Technicians reported non compliance was caused by communications issues; resulted in a CRJ-200 air turn back days later.