A DC8-62 was dispatched in non compliance with inadequate passenger oxygen capacity to meet MEL requirement with #3 thrust reverser inoperative.

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Attributes
ACN	461435
Time
Date	200001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 62
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	461435
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	460355
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Flew DC8-62 on jan/mon/00, jan/wed/00, jan/fri/00, and jan/sun/00 with #3 thrust reverser inoperative per MEL. Our company limitation restricts altitude to FL320 with passenger on board if only a 74 cubic ft oxygen bottle installed. Company chief engineer told me that all airplanes had the 111 cubic ft bottle which would be ok. We flew the aircraft at FL330 and FL320 during these trips. At our company the captain, an flight engineer, reviews the logbook and any discrepancies dmi'ed. They are supposed to consult the MEL for any operations actions and/or maintenance actions required. I noticed that the MEL was being reviewed. The captain and flight engineer decided that no limits on flight altitudes were necessary due to the mistaken assumption of larger than actual installed oxygen bottles for the passenger. I was not involved in the discussion preparing other paperwork (weight and balance) for the flight. This was, however, one of my first flts in this aircraft confign. I relied on the captain and flight engineer to accurately accomplish their duties.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC8-62 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH INADEQUATE PAX OXYGEN CAPACITY TO MEET MEL REQUIREMENT WITH #3 THRUST REVERSER INOP.

Narrative: FLEW DC8-62 ON JAN/MON/00, JAN/WED/00, JAN/FRI/00, AND JAN/SUN/00 WITH #3 THRUST REVERSER INOP PER MEL. OUR COMPANY LIMITATION RESTRICTS ALT TO FL320 WITH PAX ON BOARD IF ONLY A 74 CUBIC FT OXYGEN BOTTLE INSTALLED. COMPANY CHIEF ENGINEER TOLD ME THAT ALL AIRPLANES HAD THE 111 CUBIC FT BOTTLE WHICH WOULD BE OK. WE FLEW THE ACFT AT FL330 AND FL320 DURING THESE TRIPS. AT OUR COMPANY THE CAPT, AN FE, REVIEWS THE LOGBOOK AND ANY DISCREPANCIES DMI'ED. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO CONSULT THE MEL FOR ANY OPS ACTIONS AND/OR MAINT ACTIONS REQUIRED. I NOTICED THAT THE MEL WAS BEING REVIEWED. THE CAPT AND FE DECIDED THAT NO LIMITS ON FLT ALTS WERE NECESSARY DUE TO THE MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION OF LARGER THAN ACTUAL INSTALLED OXYGEN BOTTLES FOR THE PAX. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION PREPARING OTHER PAPERWORK (WT AND BAL) FOR THE FLT. THIS WAS, HOWEVER, ONE OF MY FIRST FLTS IN THIS ACFT CONFIGN. I RELIED ON THE CAPT AND FE TO ACCURATELY ACCOMPLISH THEIR DUTIES.

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.