EA32 crew left with an open log item.

Attributes
ACN	446911
Time
Date	199908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	446911
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During preflight, I looked at the front of the aircraft logbook and found a deferred maintenance item. I put the logbook down and referred to our MEL book to check for operations procedures for this deferred item. The first officer and I discussed the procedure. She then put the MEL book away while I looked at the back of the logbook, and then stowed it. I forgot to check the current day's page. During the flight, I got the logbook out to start some current flight entries. I then discovered an open write-up from the previous flight. It was a minor item, but still open. I immediately ACARS'ed the write-up to our maintenance control. At our next station, the item was cleared by local maintenance. I just screwed up. I got distracted by the deferred item, and didn't thoroughly review the entire logbook. My first officer had not noticed the write-up either. Thankfully, we learn the most from our mistakes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EA32 CREW LEFT WITH AN OPEN LOG ITEM.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT, I LOOKED AT THE FRONT OF THE ACFT LOGBOOK AND FOUND A DEFERRED MAINT ITEM. I PUT THE LOGBOOK DOWN AND REFERRED TO OUR MEL BOOK TO CHK FOR OPS PROCS FOR THIS DEFERRED ITEM. THE FO AND I DISCUSSED THE PROC. SHE THEN PUT THE MEL BOOK AWAY WHILE I LOOKED AT THE BACK OF THE LOGBOOK, AND THEN STOWED IT. I FORGOT TO CHK THE CURRENT DAY'S PAGE. DURING THE FLT, I GOT THE LOGBOOK OUT TO START SOME CURRENT FLT ENTRIES. I THEN DISCOVERED AN OPEN WRITE-UP FROM THE PREVIOUS FLT. IT WAS A MINOR ITEM, BUT STILL OPEN. I IMMEDIATELY ACARS'ED THE WRITE-UP TO OUR MAINT CTL. AT OUR NEXT STATION, THE ITEM WAS CLRED BY LCL MAINT. I JUST SCREWED UP. I GOT DISTRACTED BY THE DEFERRED ITEM, AND DIDN'T THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE ENTIRE LOGBOOK. MY FO HAD NOT NOTICED THE WRITE-UP EITHER. THANKFULLY, WE LEARN THE MOST FROM OUR MISTAKES.

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.