Air carrier medium large transport violation of MEL requirement.

Attributes
ACN	117273
Time
Date	198907
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl airport : alb
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
ASRS Report	117273
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After starting #2 engine noticed the 'start valve open' light had not come on. I had engineer check the act abnormals and found nothing in them that would indicate we had a serious problem. After starting the other 2 engines with a similar light problem, we assumed a common problem with all engines. Since engine starts were normal we elected to take off. While en route I remembered to check the MEL and found the start lights to be required. Since albany had no maintenance I elected to call the company maintenance coordinator on ground in albany and try to resolve what to do. He and I found the aircraft had just come from overhaul where the starter circuit had been worked on and had flown several flts before I had gotten the aircraft. Since the starters had worked properly all day and we were determined to fly the aircraft on to portland, me for maintenance. Had I made my thorough search of all manuals and logbooks before taking off from atlanta where I discovered the problem, I would not have put myself in a position like I found myself at albany, ny. I understand maintenance found the light circuit had been wired improperly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG VIOLATION OF MEL REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: AFTER STARTING #2 ENGINE NOTICED THE 'START VALVE OPEN' LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. I HAD ENGINEER CHECK THE ACT ABNORMALS AND FOUND NOTHING IN THEM THAT WOULD INDICATE WE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. AFTER STARTING THE OTHER 2 ENGINES WITH A SIMILAR LIGHT PROBLEM, WE ASSUMED A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL ENGINES. SINCE ENGINE STARTS WERE NORMAL WE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF. WHILE ENRTE I REMEMBERED TO CHECK THE MEL AND FOUND THE START LIGHTS TO BE REQUIRED. SINCE ALBANY HAD NO MAINT I ELECTED TO CALL THE COMPANY MAINT COORDINATOR ON GND IN ALBANY AND TRY TO RESOLVE WHAT TO DO. HE AND I FOUND THE ACFT HAD JUST COME FROM OVERHAUL WHERE THE STARTER CIRCUIT HAD BEEN WORKED ON AND HAD FLOWN SEVERAL FLTS BEFORE I HAD GOTTEN THE ACFT. SINCE THE STARTERS HAD WORKED PROPERLY ALL DAY AND WE WERE DETERMINED TO FLY THE ACFT ON TO PORTLAND, ME FOR MAINT. HAD I MADE MY THOROUGH SEARCH OF ALL MANUALS AND LOGBOOKS BEFORE TAKING OFF FROM ATLANTA WHERE I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, I WOULD NOT HAVE PUT MYSELF IN A POSITION LIKE I FOUND MYSELF AT ALBANY, NY. I UNDERSTAND MAINT FOUND THE LIGHT CIRCUIT HAD BEEN WIRED IMPROPERLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.