MD80 crew departs dfw without maintenance signoff on logbook item.

Attributes
ACN	428720
Time
Date	199902
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	428720
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	428719
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We picked up an airplane with an item in the logbook stating that on a previous engine start, the temperature was 450 degrees. Since this was within limits, I thought no balancing entry by maintenance was required. Upon further review, the MEL stated that a balancing entry is required for all major maintenance airports including the one we departed from. I was in error as I should have had a balancing entry even though no limit or problem existed. Obviously I have learned this lesson well. I need to check the MEL closer upon this type of occurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW DEPARTS DFW WITHOUT MAINT SIGNOFF ON LOGBOOK ITEM.

Narrative: WE PICKED UP AN AIRPLANE WITH AN ITEM IN THE LOGBOOK STATING THAT ON A PREVIOUS ENG START, THE TEMP WAS 450 DEGS. SINCE THIS WAS WITHIN LIMITS, I THOUGHT NO BALANCING ENTRY BY MAINT WAS REQUIRED. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THE MEL STATED THAT A BALANCING ENTRY IS REQUIRED FOR ALL MAJOR MAINT ARPTS INCLUDING THE ONE WE DEPARTED FROM. I WAS IN ERROR AS I SHOULD HAVE HAD A BALANCING ENTRY EVEN THOUGH NO LIMIT OR PROB EXISTED. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE LEARNED THIS LESSON WELL. I NEED TO CHK THE MEL CLOSER UPON THIS TYPE OF OCCURRENCE.

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.