Narrative:

During a quick turn I was notified by operations, that we had an aircraft change. When I entered the cockpit I was met by our maintenance personnel who was busy doing paperwork for 2 MEL's. The aircraft had several other MEL items already. When I questioned maintenance about the legality of one MEL, a fuel pump, they assured me that it was legal and within company procedures. But with only 10 mins to schedule departure, they did not have time to argue. When I called maintenance control on the telephone, they did not answer. One mechanic showed me the MEL book where it was stated that the aircraft could be operated without 1 electric fuel pump. He also informed me that the fuel pump worked and the problem was with the switch in the cockpit, it would simply not stay in the 'on' position. I accepted the aircraft and flew 1 round trip, and after returning, I discussed my problem with my union representative. He told me that the aircraft could not be operated with the fuel pump switch off, because it would close a motive flow valve among other things. I had flown an aircraft that should have been grounded. I would also have refueled the aircraft if I had a chance to talk to our maintenance control supervisors and had time to read our manuals, but our company agents were trying to push me on time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MDT ACR ACFT OPERATED AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT SINCE ONE FUEL BOOST WAS NOTED INOP IN THE MAINT LOG AND COULD NOT BE DEFERRED.

Narrative: DURING A QUICK TURN I WAS NOTIFIED BY OPS, THAT WE HAD AN ACFT CHANGE. WHEN I ENTERED THE COCKPIT I WAS MET BY OUR MAINT PERSONNEL WHO WAS BUSY DOING PAPERWORK FOR 2 MEL'S. THE ACFT HAD SEVERAL OTHER MEL ITEMS ALREADY. WHEN I QUESTIONED MAINT ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF ONE MEL, A FUEL PUMP, THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS LEGAL AND WITHIN COMPANY PROCS. BUT WITH ONLY 10 MINS TO SCHEDULE DEP, THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ARGUE. WHEN I CALLED MAINT CTL ON THE TELEPHONE, THEY DID NOT ANSWER. ONE MECH SHOWED ME THE MEL BOOK WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE ACFT COULD BE OPERATED WITHOUT 1 ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP WORKED AND THE PROB WAS WITH THE SWITCH IN THE COCKPIT, IT WOULD SIMPLY NOT STAY IN THE 'ON' POS. I ACCEPTED THE ACFT AND FLEW 1 ROUND TRIP, AND AFTER RETURNING, I DISCUSSED MY PROB WITH MY UNION REPRESENTATIVE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE ACFT COULD NOT BE OPERATED WITH THE FUEL PUMP SWITCH OFF, BECAUSE IT WOULD CLOSE A MOTIVE FLOW VALVE AMONG OTHER THINGS. I HAD FLOWN AN ACFT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GNDED. I WOULD ALSO HAVE REFUELED THE ACFT IF I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO OUR MAINT CTL SUPVRS AND HAD TIME TO READ OUR MANUALS, BUT OUR COMPANY AGENTS WERE TRYING TO PUSH ME ON TIME.

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.