Narrative:

Received shift turnover. Aircraft in question was operating with MEL on aft cargo compartment liner. Aircraft had operated several legs during day with MEL. I dispatched aircraft for final 3 legs of day. Captain of last leg called and asked if we were planning to operate a full aircraft to mia (passenger and freight) with the inability to use the capacity of the rear cargo compartment. I looked up the MEL which stated can operate if: either the rear compartment remains empty or non combustibles are loaded in it. Since the 2 previous legs were full, the compartment had to be used for passenger luggage. It was determined that the aircraft should have operated with MEL only if the compartment was empty. I will, from now on, look up mels and review restrs no matter how simple they appear.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON-COMPLIANCE WITH MEL LIMITATIONS. ACFT EQUIP PROB CARGO COMPARTMENT REMOVABLE LINER.

Narrative: RECEIVED SHIFT TURNOVER. ACFT IN QUESTION WAS OPERATING WITH MEL ON AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT LINER. ACFT HAD OPERATED SEVERAL LEGS DURING DAY WITH MEL. I DISPATCHED ACFT FOR FINAL 3 LEGS OF DAY. CAPT OF LAST LEG CALLED AND ASKED IF WE WERE PLANNING TO OPERATE A FULL ACFT TO MIA (PAX AND FREIGHT) WITH THE INABILITY TO USE THE CAPACITY OF THE REAR CARGO COMPARTMENT. I LOOKED UP THE MEL WHICH STATED CAN OPERATE IF: EITHER THE REAR COMPARTMENT REMAINS EMPTY OR NON COMBUSTIBLES ARE LOADED IN IT. SINCE THE 2 PREVIOUS LEGS WERE FULL, THE COMPARTMENT HAD TO BE USED FOR PAX LUGGAGE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT SHOULD HAVE OPERATED WITH MEL ONLY IF THE COMPARTMENT WAS EMPTY. I WILL, FROM NOW ON, LOOK UP MELS AND REVIEW RESTRS NO MATTER HOW SIMPLE THEY APPEAR.

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.