Narrative:

During an aircraft swap in phx I found the #2 stall warning system written up and deferred. Per the MEL I tested both system, both operated normally. The #2 button was sticking (something was spilled on the console previously). I read the MEL, but mistakenly thought it said must be repaired within 3 days, when in fact it said 3 legs. The aircraft had already been flown a minimum of 7 legs when the aircraft swap occurred. I did write on the afm they had been tested and operated, with only a sticky button on the #2 system. Later, during the flight, after reading the MEL again, I found that we had departed outside the 3 leg repair area. Upon arriving in gjt, maintenance was notified.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A EMB120 WAS OPERATED WITH #2 STALL WARNING DEFERRED AS INOP. ACFT WAS OPERATED BEYOND THE LIMITS ALLOWED IN THE MEL.

Narrative: DURING AN ACFT SWAP IN PHX I FOUND THE #2 STALL WARNING SYS WRITTEN UP AND DEFERRED. PER THE MEL I TESTED BOTH SYS, BOTH OPERATED NORMALLY. THE #2 BUTTON WAS STICKING (SOMETHING WAS SPILLED ON THE CONSOLE PREVIOUSLY). I READ THE MEL, BUT MISTAKENLY THOUGHT IT SAID MUST BE REPAIRED WITHIN 3 DAYS, WHEN IN FACT IT SAID 3 LEGS. THE ACFT HAD ALREADY BEEN FLOWN A MINIMUM OF 7 LEGS WHEN THE ACFT SWAP OCCURRED. I DID WRITE ON THE AFM THEY HAD BEEN TESTED AND OPERATED, WITH ONLY A STICKY BUTTON ON THE #2 SYS. LATER, DURING THE FLT, AFTER READING THE MEL AGAIN, I FOUND THAT WE HAD DEPARTED OUTSIDE THE 3 LEG REPAIR AREA. UPON ARRIVING IN GJT, MAINT WAS NOTIFIED.

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.