A B737-200 was dispatched with a broken light shield in the aft cargo pit and the cargo pit usable.

Attributes
ACN	443533
Time
Date	199907
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzv.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : fcc technician : powerplant
Experience	maintenance supervisor : 10
ASRS Report	443533
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : repair
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Operation informed me the aft pit is inoperative by previous deferred item, light assembly shield broken. I had a mechanic check the condition of the light assembly and updated the deferred item pit usable. No maintenance manual or MEL covers this item that I know of. I feel the pit fire containment will be maintained with the light cover broken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-200 WAS DISPATCHED WITH A BROKEN LIGHT SHIELD IN THE AFT CARGO PIT AND THE CARGO PIT USABLE.

Narrative: OP INFORMED ME THE AFT PIT IS INOP BY PREVIOUS DEFERRED ITEM, LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHIELD BROKEN. I HAD A MECH CHK THE CONDITION OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND UPDATED THE DEFERRED ITEM PIT USABLE. NO MAINT MANUAL OR MEL COVERS THIS ITEM THAT I KNOW OF. I FEEL THE PIT FIRE CONTAINMENT WILL BE MAINTAINED WITH THE LIGHT COVER BROKEN.

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.