Air carrier large transport flew a leg without complying with MEL requirement.

Attributes
ACN	186681
Time
Date	199108
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	186681
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5500
ASRS Report	187151
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

The inbound crew prior to us wrote up the continuous ignition (low energy) system as 'popping' the circuit breaker on #1 engine during takeoff. Maintenance could not repair the system due to a lack of appropriate components. Maintenance then MEL'ed the system using a MEL that in our opinion pertains to a different type of continuous ignition system. The maintenance man stated that they checked their publications and that the flight side of the ignition system could be used but would require a write up at our next stop. (Later investigation by flight crew uncovered a 2 min or 3 min off/2 min on 23 min off limit so system is usable. However, when flying to newark with hurricane off the coast somehow 4 min of ignition doesn't seem to be a big cushion! Corrective action: fleet type aircraft for all. Rewrite MEL to specifications. Deal with this specific system alternate use. Enhance limitation section to include use of the name flight ignition vice high energy system to ensure crews are aware of the specific system limitation. Have parts for all possible system at your headquarters and hub domicile, especially iah where all maintenance is managed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLEW A LEG WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH MEL REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: THE INBOUND CREW PRIOR TO US WROTE UP THE CONTINUOUS IGNITION (LOW ENERGY) SYS AS 'POPPING' THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ON #1 ENG DURING TKOF. MAINT COULD NOT REPAIR THE SYS DUE TO A LACK OF APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS. MAINT THEN MEL'ED THE SYS USING A MEL THAT IN OUR OPINION PERTAINS TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONTINUOUS IGNITION SYS. THE MAINT MAN STATED THAT THEY CHKED THEIR PUBLICATIONS AND THAT THE FLT SIDE OF THE IGNITION SYS COULD BE USED BUT WOULD REQUIRE A WRITE UP AT OUR NEXT STOP. (LATER INVESTIGATION BY FLC UNCOVERED A 2 MIN OR 3 MIN OFF/2 MIN ON 23 MIN OFF LIMIT SO SYS IS USABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN FLYING TO NEWARK WITH HURRICANE OFF THE COAST SOMEHOW 4 MIN OF IGNITION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A BIG CUSHION! CORRECTIVE ACTION: FLEET TYPE ACFT FOR ALL. REWRITE MEL TO SPECS. DEAL WITH THIS SPECIFIC SYS ALTERNATE USE. ENHANCE LIMITATION SECTION TO INCLUDE USE OF THE NAME FLT IGNITION VICE HIGH ENERGY SYS TO ENSURE CREWS ARE AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC SYS LIMITATION. HAVE PARTS FOR ALL POSSIBLE SYS AT YOUR HEADQUARTERS AND HUB DOMICILE, ESPECIALLY IAH WHERE ALL MAINT IS MANAGED.

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.