<< >> NASA ASRS Report 364326, March 1997

A B737-300 was dispatched with the leading edge flap in- transit light on continuously and deferred in violation of the MEL.

Attributes
ACN	364326
Time
Date	199703
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	364326
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On mar/xx/97 the aircraft was written up and released for service with a leading edge flap in-transit light. It was perceived as an indication problem since the leading edge devices were physically checked and not in-transit. The mechanic that released the aircraft incorrectly did so since the MEL did not allow relief for the leading edge flaps in- transit (which was the indication). The MEL did provide relief for the leading edge slats in-transit light, however, and this is what the mechanic used to release the flight. We discovered this en route to chicago where the aircraft was subsequently grounded and then fixed by maintenance in chicago. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states the aircraft was a B737-300 with EFIS and FMS. He states no contact was made by the FAA.

Related reports:

• B737-800 captain reported being dispatched on an ETOPS fligh...
• An md-83 was dispatched under MEL 24-04A because of an AC cr...
• A canadair CL600 was dispatched in non compliance with the r...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE LEADING EDGE FLAP IN- TRANSIT LIGHT ON CONTINUOUSLY AND DEFERRED IN VIOLATION OF THE MEL.

Narrative: ON MAR/XX/97 THE ACFT WAS WRITTEN UP AND RELEASED FOR SVC WITH A LEADING EDGE FLAP IN-TRANSIT LIGHT. IT WAS PERCEIVED AS AN INDICATION PROB SINCE THE LEADING EDGE DEVICES WERE PHYSICALLY CHKED AND NOT IN-TRANSIT. THE MECH THAT RELEASED THE ACFT INCORRECTLY DID SO SINCE THE MEL DID NOT ALLOW RELIEF FOR THE LEADING EDGE FLAPS IN- TRANSIT (WHICH WAS THE INDICATION). THE MEL DID PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THE LEADING EDGE SLATS IN-TRANSIT LIGHT, HOWEVER, AND THIS IS WHAT THE MECH USED TO RELEASE THE FLT. WE DISCOVERED THIS ENRTE TO CHICAGO WHERE THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GNDED AND THEN FIXED BY MAINT IN CHICAGO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THE ACFT WAS A B737-300 WITH EFIS AND FMS. HE STATES NO CONTACT WAS MADE BY THE FAA.

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.