MEL interpretation.

Attributes
ACN	306300
Time
Date	199506
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	306300
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 13000
ASRS Report	306419
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We left iah for atl with a 'temperature probe' inoperative and properly documented. MEL states 'do not fly into known icing.' we felt we could avoid any icing based on all WX data available. We were right. Based on discussion with dispatcher later, it was felt FAA might not interpret the situation the way we did. Therefore, we felt we operated by the rules and quite safely, but I offer this NASA report in case the FAA were to investigate this flight and fuel enforcement action was warranted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEL INTERP.

Narrative: WE LEFT IAH FOR ATL WITH A 'TEMP PROBE' INOP AND PROPERLY DOCUMENTED. MEL STATES 'DO NOT FLY INTO KNOWN ICING.' WE FELT WE COULD AVOID ANY ICING BASED ON ALL WX DATA AVAILABLE. WE WERE RIGHT. BASED ON DISCUSSION WITH DISPATCHER LATER, IT WAS FELT FAA MIGHT NOT INTERPRET THE SIT THE WAY WE DID. THEREFORE, WE FELT WE OPERATED BY THE RULES AND QUITE SAFELY, BUT I OFFER THIS NASA RPT IN CASE THE FAA WERE TO INVESTIGATE THIS FLT AND FUEL ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS WARRANTED.

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.