Narrative:

After takeoff my IOE instructor noticed that we had an open write-up in the logbook. The aircraft had been flown by 3 crews before us. It was not noticed by us or the previous crews because it looked like it was fully signed off. The aircraft had departed lax on a maintenance ferry flight to fat a few days before with 2 write-ups. When in fat, only 1 write- up was signed off, but the mechanic's writing was so sloppy (like mine) that it looked like he signed off both items. Only under close inspection could you see that 1 item remained open. Contributing factors: late aircraft swap (5 mins before departure). New captain in aircraft (5 hours). Poor maintenance procedures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ATX LTT OPERATED ACFT WITH AN ACFT DISCREPANCY NOT SIGNED OFF.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF MY IOE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THAT WE HAD AN OPEN WRITE-UP IN THE LOGBOOK. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN BY 3 CREWS BEFORE US. IT WAS NOT NOTICED BY US OR THE PREVIOUS CREWS BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FULLY SIGNED OFF. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED LAX ON A MAINT FERRY FLT TO FAT A FEW DAYS BEFORE WITH 2 WRITE-UPS. WHEN IN FAT, ONLY 1 WRITE- UP WAS SIGNED OFF, BUT THE MECH'S WRITING WAS SO SLOPPY (LIKE MINE) THAT IT LOOKED LIKE HE SIGNED OFF BOTH ITEMS. ONLY UNDER CLOSE INSPECTION COULD YOU SEE THAT 1 ITEM REMAINED OPEN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: LATE ACFT SWAP (5 MINS BEFORE DEP). NEW CAPT IN ACFT (5 HRS). POOR MAINT PROCS.

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.