A B727-200 was operated above the maximum altitude allowed by the MEL manual for 1 yaw damper system...

Attributes
ACN	402960
Time
Date	199805
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : yql
State Reference	AB
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zlc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	402960
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During cruise at FL280, we experienced extremely rough turbulence. There was a report that there was a problem with one of the yaw dampers, however, both were working properly according to all indications. Due to the extremely rough turbulence and possible proximity to thunderstorm tops (even though radar failed to paint and that were close) a temporary climb was made above the maximum altitude for yaw damper inoperative at captain's direction. Subsequent descent made back to FL280 in clear air. Captain decided yaw dampers were working properly and operational necessity required a climb to get above extremely rough turbulence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 WAS OPERATED ABOVE THE MAX ALT ALLOWED BY THE MEL MANUAL FOR 1 YAW DAMPER SYS INOP.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT FL280, WE EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY ROUGH TURB. THERE WAS A RPT THAT THERE WAS A PROB WITH ONE OF THE YAW DAMPERS, HOWEVER, BOTH WERE WORKING PROPERLY ACCORDING TO ALL INDICATIONS. DUE TO THE EXTREMELY ROUGH TURB AND POSSIBLE PROX TO TSTM TOPS (EVEN THOUGH RADAR FAILED TO PAINT AND THAT WERE CLOSE) A TEMPORARY CLB WAS MADE ABOVE THE MAX ALT FOR YAW DAMPER INOP AT CAPT'S DIRECTION. SUBSEQUENT DSCNT MADE BACK TO FL280 IN CLR AIR. CAPT DECIDED YAW DAMPERS WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND OPERATIONAL NECESSITY REQUIRED A CLB TO GET ABOVE EXTREMELY ROUGH TURB.

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.

A B727-200 was operated above the maximum altitude allowed by the MEL manual for 1 yaw damper system inoperative.