Medium large transport has MEL action that did not cover the original write- up problem.

Attributes
ACN	289295
Time
Date	199411
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bos
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	289295
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A previous pilot's logbook write-up on an automatic air conditioning pack controller required maintenance corrective action and placement of MEL stickers. The flight release, logbook, and MEL stickers all reflected the same MEL corrective action. I checked and signed the flight release with the MEL number noted on the release. I also checked the aircraft and the logbook for proper placement of MEL stickers. The problem was that the MEL corrective action was not correct for the original write-up. Consequently, 8 pilots, including myself, did not notice the discrepancy. The aircraft had flown for 3 days with an MEL corrective action that did not satisfy the original write-up. The pilot receiving the aircraft from me happened to notice the discrepancy. In the future I will read the original write-up to be sure maintenance has complied with the proper MEL corrective action. The air conditioning pack controller that prompted the original write-up functioned normally - - in other words maintenance fixed something that wasn't broke!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG HAS MEL ACTION THAT DID NOT COVER THE ORIGINAL WRITE- UP PROB.

Narrative: A PREVIOUS PLT'S LOGBOOK WRITE-UP ON AN AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING PACK CTLR REQUIRED MAINT CORRECTIVE ACTION AND PLACEMENT OF MEL STICKERS. THE FLT RELEASE, LOGBOOK, AND MEL STICKERS ALL REFLECTED THE SAME MEL CORRECTIVE ACTION. I CHKED AND SIGNED THE FLT RELEASE WITH THE MEL NUMBER NOTED ON THE RELEASE. I ALSO CHKED THE ACFT AND THE LOGBOOK FOR PROPER PLACEMENT OF MEL STICKERS. THE PROB WAS THAT THE MEL CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS NOT CORRECT FOR THE ORIGINAL WRITE-UP. CONSEQUENTLY, 8 PLTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, DID NOT NOTICE THE DISCREPANCY. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN FOR 3 DAYS WITH AN MEL CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT DID NOT SATISFY THE ORIGINAL WRITE-UP. THE PLT RECEIVING THE ACFT FROM ME HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE DISCREPANCY. IN THE FUTURE I WILL READ THE ORIGINAL WRITE-UP TO BE SURE MAINT HAS COMPLIED WITH THE PROPER MEL CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE AIR CONDITIONING PACK CTLR THAT PROMPTED THE ORIGINAL WRITE-UP FUNCTIONED NORMALLY - - IN OTHER WORDS MAINT FIXED SOMETHING THAT WASN'T BROKE!

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.