Narrative:

On [date] I went out on a last minute gate call with several technicians about a panel missing on the left wing. The number 2 slat inboard slat tab cover was missing. I don't remember if I found cdl (configuration deviation list) card number [xxxxxx] or maintenance control directed us to the card. I made an entry into elb (electronic log book) stating the location of the missing tab. The chart on the cdl card [xxxxxx] lists 12 tabs in a table with a different cdl number for each tab under a heading of deferred position. The number 2 slat inboard tab would be position 4. That is why I applied or was directed by [maintenance control] to apply cdl XXXX. I don't remember if I or [maintenance control] came up with the cdl number. I see now that there is a note on the cdl card stating deferred position above refers to the quantity of the slat skin tabs missing; not the slat number. I don't see why the chart on the cdl card says deferred position and not something like number of tabs missing. This card has been revised during the last MEL (minimum equipment list) update and I don't know if this was current cdl card was the one I was using or the previous version. I would like to know when it was revised; when it was downloaded to the ipads and what were the changes made to it. Unfortunately I don't remember many of the details of this gate call. Recommend changing the cdl card chart from deferred position to number of tabs missing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Aircraft Technician was confused by 737 Configuration Deviation List (CDL) table for Slat Tab Covers.

Narrative: On [date] I went out on a last minute gate call with several technicians about a panel missing on the left wing. The number 2 slat inboard slat tab cover was missing. I don't remember if I found CDL (Configuration Deviation List) card number [XXXXXX] or Maintenance Control directed us to the card. I made an entry into ELB (Electronic Log Book) stating the location of the missing tab. The chart on the CDL card [XXXXXX] lists 12 tabs in a table with a different CDL number for each tab under a heading of deferred position. The number 2 slat inboard tab would be position 4. That is why I applied or was directed by [Maintenance Control] to apply CDL XXXX. I don't remember if I or [Maintenance Control] came up with the CDL number. I see now that there is a note on the CDL card stating deferred position above refers to the quantity of the slat skin tabs missing; not the slat number. I don't see why the chart on the CDL card says deferred position and not something like number of tabs missing. This card has been revised during the last MEL (Minimum Equipment List) update and I don't know if this was current CDL card was the one I was using or the previous version. I would like to know when it was revised; when it was downloaded to the Ipads and what were the changes made to it. Unfortunately I don't remember many of the details of this gate call. Recommend changing the CDL card chart from deferred position to number of tabs missing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.