Illegal logbook signoff performed on an aircraft equipment problem malfunction.

Attributes
ACN	269672
Time
Date	199404
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gsp
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 15500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	269672
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	269517
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While performing before start checklist when testing fire warning system, we found left fire warning handle did not light up as required. I changed both light bulbs, still no test. I then made a call to our dispatcher and maintenance coordinator to discuss the problem. We decided that this was a necessary item for flight (though not specifically stated in the MEL). The maintenance coordinator suggested to replace the bulbs again plus pull the fire handle out and re-seat it. I did both of these items and re-tested, this time we got a good test. The discrepancy was fixed but now what do we do with the paperwork (logbook)? The maintenance coordinator said I (the captain) can write the invalid test in the discrepancy block and then write our 'fix' in the corrective action block - e.g., 're-lamped and re-seated handle, tests good.' plus put my initials there. I had not heard of this 'new' procedure but took the man as the authority/authorized on this type of documentation. Later I found out this is not an accepted method of documentation. The problem was fixed before moving the plane but the paperwork is becoming a nightmare. Supplemental information from acn 269517: this was done by phone. It was later found to be a wrong action on our part. We now know that it must be a licensed mechanic who fills out the corrective action block and that a teletype message would have been legal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ILLEGAL LOGBOOK SIGNOFF PERFORMED ON AN ACFT EQUIP PROB MALFUNCTION.

Narrative: WHILE PERFORMING BEFORE START CHKLIST WHEN TESTING FIRE WARNING SYS, WE FOUND L FIRE WARNING HANDLE DID NOT LIGHT UP AS REQUIRED. I CHANGED BOTH LIGHT BULBS, STILL NO TEST. I THEN MADE A CALL TO OUR DISPATCHER AND MAINT COORDINATOR TO DISCUSS THE PROB. WE DECIDED THAT THIS WAS A NECESSARY ITEM FOR FLT (THOUGH NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED IN THE MEL). THE MAINT COORDINATOR SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE BULBS AGAIN PLUS PULL THE FIRE HANDLE OUT AND RE-SEAT IT. I DID BOTH OF THESE ITEMS AND RE-TESTED, THIS TIME WE GOT A GOOD TEST. THE DISCREPANCY WAS FIXED BUT NOW WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE PAPERWORK (LOGBOOK)? THE MAINT COORDINATOR SAID I (THE CAPT) CAN WRITE THE INVALID TEST IN THE DISCREPANCY BLOCK AND THEN WRITE OUR 'FIX' IN THE CORRECTIVE ACTION BLOCK - E.G., 'RE-LAMPED AND RE-SEATED HANDLE, TESTS GOOD.' PLUS PUT MY INITIALS THERE. I HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS 'NEW' PROC BUT TOOK THE MAN AS THE AUTH ON THIS TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION. LATER I FOUND OUT THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTED METHOD OF DOCUMENTATION. THE PROB WAS FIXED BEFORE MOVING THE PLANE BUT THE PAPERWORK IS BECOMING A NIGHTMARE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 269517: THIS WAS DONE BY PHONE. IT WAS LATER FOUND TO BE A WRONG ACTION ON OUR PART. WE NOW KNOW THAT IT MUST BE A LICENSED MECH WHO FILLS OUT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION BLOCK AND THAT A TELETYPE MESSAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN LEGAL.

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.