Narrative:

Aft lower cargo detection system found inoperative during preflight. MEL 26-1601 allows both systems inoperative provided the compartment is empty or only non combustible materials are carried. Maintenance said only non combustible material were loaded and then MEL'd the system. Apparently the FAA says that passenger bags are not considered noncombustible. FAA should pass on their interpretation of attached MEL.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB NON ADHERENCE TO MEL REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: AFT LOWER CARGO DETECTION SYS FOUND INOP DURING PREFLT. MEL 26-1601 ALLOWS BOTH SYSTEMS INOP PROVIDED THE COMPARTMENT IS EMPTY OR ONLY NON COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE CARRIED. MAINT SAID ONLY NON COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL WERE LOADED AND THEN MEL'D THE SYS. APPARENTLY THE FAA SAYS THAT PAX BAGS ARE NOT CONSIDERED NONCOMBUSTIBLE. FAA SHOULD PASS ON THEIR INTERPRETATION OF ATTACHED MEL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.