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Reporting PIC of air carrier BA3100 reflects on the legality of dispatching the aircraft with various items affecting airworthiness standards as noted in the MEL.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 356173 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199612 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : msp |
| State Reference | MN |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : msp |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Jetstream 31 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach landing other 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 : 2900 flight time type : 260 |
| ASRS Report | 356173 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
Departed sux with radar altimeter deferred per MEL. The MEL required minimums of 500-1 for dispatch. The ft for msp call for a minimum of 900-1. At arrival at msp, the WX was 600 and 3/4. We held until we started to get low on fuel. We took the approach at 600 and 3/4. I did not take the approach initially as the WX was low and we had no altimeter (radar). The MEL stated that WX minimums must be at least 500-1 for dispatch. It did not say anything about if you were ok to leave, but ran into unforecast WX. The MEL is poorly written in several sections, leaving voids that can be subject to interpretation. If the MEL is not specific, it leaves me feeling unsure about what I can and cannot do. A similar section is the oxygen system. It has a deferral for the 'passenger system.' however in the J31 both passenger and crew use the same oxygen bottle. So if the bottle has a problem, they defer it under the 'passenger system.' however, now the crew system no longer works. Is this legal? I don't know. I don't think anybody does.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RPTING PIC OF ACR BA3100 REFLECTS ON THE LEGALITY OF DISPATCHING THE ACFT WITH VARIOUS ITEMS AFFECTING AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS AS NOTED IN THE MEL.
Narrative: DEPARTED SUX WITH RADAR ALTIMETER DEFERRED PER MEL. THE MEL REQUIRED MINIMUMS OF 500-1 FOR DISPATCH. THE FT FOR MSP CALL FOR A MINIMUM OF 900-1. AT ARR AT MSP, THE WX WAS 600 AND 3/4. WE HELD UNTIL WE STARTED TO GET LOW ON FUEL. WE TOOK THE APCH AT 600 AND 3/4. I DID NOT TAKE THE APCH INITIALLY AS THE WX WAS LOW AND WE HAD NO ALTIMETER (RADAR). THE MEL STATED THAT WX MINIMUMS MUST BE AT LEAST 500-1 FOR DISPATCH. IT DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IF YOU WERE OK TO LEAVE, BUT RAN INTO UNFORECAST WX. THE MEL IS POORLY WRITTEN IN SEVERAL SECTIONS, LEAVING VOIDS THAT CAN BE SUBJECT TO INTERP. IF THE MEL IS NOT SPECIFIC, IT LEAVES ME FEELING UNSURE ABOUT WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO. A SIMILAR SECTION IS THE OXYGEN SYS. IT HAS A DEFERRAL FOR THE 'PAX SYS.' HOWEVER IN THE J31 BOTH PAX AND CREW USE THE SAME OXYGEN BOTTLE. SO IF THE BOTTLE HAS A PROB, THEY DEFER IT UNDER THE 'PAX SYS.' HOWEVER, NOW THE CREW SYS NO LONGER WORKS. IS THIS LEGAL? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DOES.
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.