Narrative:

While handling another MEL problem concerning a placarded approach idle system, we found a write-up concerning gum on a tray table. The agent informed me that the passenger load would support blocking that seat to avoid a delay. After consulting the MEL, I agreed to having the seat blocked, I was not advised that this was an exit row seat. Therefore, all provisions of having the seat in an exit row were not complied with. I was advised, by the captain that picked up the airplane later that night, that my sign off of the blocked seat was improper. This problem was made worse by the fact that the airplane was over fueled when we picked it up. Although we still were under the MEL restr weight, it added to the confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CREW FLEW AN ACFT WITH AN IMPROPERLY RIGGED PAX SEAT. THE MEL WAS IMPROPERLY INTERPRETED AND APPLIED. ERROR ADMITTED.

Narrative: WHILE HANDLING ANOTHER MEL PROB CONCERNING A PLACARDED APCH IDLE SYS, WE FOUND A WRITE-UP CONCERNING GUM ON A TRAY TABLE. THE AGENT INFORMED ME THAT THE PAX LOAD WOULD SUPPORT BLOCKING THAT SEAT TO AVOID A DELAY. AFTER CONSULTING THE MEL, I AGREED TO HAVING THE SEAT BLOCKED, I WAS NOT ADVISED THAT THIS WAS AN EXIT ROW SEAT. THEREFORE, ALL PROVISIONS OF HAVING THE SEAT IN AN EXIT ROW WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH. I WAS ADVISED, BY THE CAPT THAT PICKED UP THE AIRPLANE LATER THAT NIGHT, THAT MY SIGN OFF OF THE BLOCKED SEAT WAS IMPROPER. THIS PROB WAS MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER FUELED WHEN WE PICKED IT UP. ALTHOUGH WE STILL WERE UNDER THE MEL RESTR WT, IT ADDED TO THE CONFUSION.

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.