Narrative:

We were unable to make contact with ground control using the #1 VHF radio. Both #2 and #3 VHF were working just fine. After pushback was complete, we determined the #1 VHF receiver was ok. I reasoned with what seemed like sound logic at the time, that with #3 VHF radios, 1 of them could be inoperative for a legal dispatch without a special release. I ordinarily would have, and should have, checked the MEL before continuing. However, I was too concerned about the potential delay and possibly losing the 'preferred' altitude we had received with our ATC clearance. Checking the MEL after level off at cruise, I discovered much to my chagrin that VHF #1 was required unless dispatched in VMC. Only #2 or #3 VHF could be inoperative. Our flight continued on to destination without incident. On arrival, maintenance replaced the #1 VHF radio. I reviewed the aircraft electrical system as it pertains to the #1 VHF radio and discovered the obvious logic for the MEL restriction. I really feel stupid and I have pledged to myself to never rely only on my logic! I will take the time to carefully check the MEL. P.south. The #1 VHF radio problem was an intermittent transmitter. As you might guess, it worked perfectly for maintenance on arrival but nevertheless they replaced the entire radio.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A WDB ACR CREW FAILED TO CHK THEIR MEL PRIOR TO TKOF AND FLEW IN AN ILLEGAL CONDITION.

Narrative: WE WERE UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH GND CTL USING THE #1 VHF RADIO. BOTH #2 AND #3 VHF WERE WORKING JUST FINE. AFTER PUSHBACK WAS COMPLETE, WE DETERMINED THE #1 VHF RECEIVER WAS OK. I REASONED WITH WHAT SEEMED LIKE SOUND LOGIC AT THE TIME, THAT WITH #3 VHF RADIOS, 1 OF THEM COULD BE INOP FOR A LEGAL DISPATCH WITHOUT A SPECIAL RELEASE. I ORDINARILY WOULD HAVE, AND SHOULD HAVE, CHKED THE MEL BEFORE CONTINUING. HOWEVER, I WAS TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DELAY AND POSSIBLY LOSING THE 'PREFERRED' ALT WE HAD RECEIVED WITH OUR ATC CLRNC. CHKING THE MEL AFTER LEVEL OFF AT CRUISE, I DISCOVERED MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN THAT VHF #1 WAS REQUIRED UNLESS DISPATCHED IN VMC. ONLY #2 OR #3 VHF COULD BE INOP. OUR FLT CONTINUED ON TO DEST WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON ARR, MAINT REPLACED THE #1 VHF RADIO. I REVIEWED THE ACFT ELECTRICAL SYS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE #1 VHF RADIO AND DISCOVERED THE OBVIOUS LOGIC FOR THE MEL RESTRICTION. I REALLY FEEL STUPID AND I HAVE PLEDGED TO MYSELF TO NEVER RELY ONLY ON MY LOGIC! I WILL TAKE THE TIME TO CAREFULLY CHK THE MEL. P.S. THE #1 VHF RADIO PROB WAS AN INTERMITTENT XMITTER. AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, IT WORKED PERFECTLY FOR MAINT ON ARR BUT NEVERTHELESS THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE RADIO.

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.