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A B737-200 flight crew accepts their aircraft for flight with an improper mix of MEL items that challenged the airworthiness standards as put forth by the FARS. Mco, fl.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 465845 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200003 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : mco.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : takeoff roll ground : taxi ground : preflight |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 465845 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000 |
| ASRS Report | 466560 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other other : mx 4 |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Maintenance Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Company Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
When I arrived at aircraft, I noted that there were 2 MEL's on the logbook -- left forward boost pump and left fuel gauge. I read the MEL for the boost pump and then the MEL. The first fails to mention that you can't have both and in my haste I failed to note that the fuel gauge MEL clearly states that both boost pumps must be operative. There really is no excuse for missing this but factors involved were rushing to meet the on-time departure and thinking that both maintenance and dispatch have given their approval for the release. I will take the time to read, not scan, all MEL's. Without a doubt, I should have caught it and I will in the future. When we arrived at our destination maintenance met the aircraft, informed me that it had been released with an illegal MEL, apologized and grounded the plane. Dispatch also called to apologize for not catching the problem. Don't rush! The flight was conducted with no incidents. Supplemental information from acn 466560: fuel quantity indicator MEL is quite common and this may have added to complacency.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-200 FLC ACCEPTS THEIR ACFT FOR FLT WITH AN IMPROPER MIX OF MEL ITEMS THAT CHALLENGED THE AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS AS PUT FORTH BY THE FARS. MCO, FL.
Narrative: WHEN I ARRIVED AT ACFT, I NOTED THAT THERE WERE 2 MEL'S ON THE LOGBOOK -- L FORWARD BOOST PUMP AND L FUEL GAUGE. I READ THE MEL FOR THE BOOST PUMP AND THEN THE MEL. THE FIRST FAILS TO MENTION THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH AND IN MY HASTE I FAILED TO NOTE THAT THE FUEL GAUGE MEL CLRLY STATES THAT BOTH BOOST PUMPS MUST BE OPERATIVE. THERE REALLY IS NO EXCUSE FOR MISSING THIS BUT FACTORS INVOLVED WERE RUSHING TO MEET THE ON-TIME DEP AND THINKING THAT BOTH MAINT AND DISPATCH HAVE GIVEN THEIR APPROVAL FOR THE RELEASE. I WILL TAKE THE TIME TO READ, NOT SCAN, ALL MEL'S. WITHOUT A DOUBT, I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT AND I WILL IN THE FUTURE. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DEST MAINT MET THE ACFT, INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD BEEN RELEASED WITH AN ILLEGAL MEL, APOLOGIZED AND GNDED THE PLANE. DISPATCH ALSO CALLED TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CATCHING THE PROB. DON'T RUSH! THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED WITH NO INCIDENTS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 466560: FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR MEL IS QUITE COMMON AND THIS MAY HAVE ADDED TO COMPLACENCY.
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.