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A B727 dispatched in non compliance with a #2 compass system malfunction deferred as inoperative in conflict with the MEL.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 493002 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200011 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : maintenance ground : parked 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 : 75 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 1825 |
| ASRS Report | 493002 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : fault isolation |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Maintenance Human Performance |
Narrative:
During preflight, I discovered an RMI fire, after aircraft/avionics were pwred. Conversation with local contract maintenance only reiterated what I could see. I troubleshot the problem to the best of my ability (not a mechanic) and called company maintenance control. I described the situation and suggested that the problem was the #2 compass. We examined the MEL and maintenance control assured me that our procedures and the discrepancy allowed for the aircraft to be flown. I flew the aircraft on 3 consecutive legs with no incidents. Later on, I was told that the aircraft was indeed not airworthy and that I had flown it illegally. The problem: I relied on 'experts' to determine the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B727 DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A #2 COMPASS SYS MALFUNCTION DEFERRED AS INOP IN CONFLICT WITH THE MEL.
Narrative: DURING PREFLT, I DISCOVERED AN RMI FIRE, AFTER ACFT/AVIONICS WERE PWRED. CONVERSATION WITH LCL CONTRACT MAINT ONLY REITERATED WHAT I COULD SEE. I TROUBLESHOT THE PROB TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY (NOT A MECH) AND CALLED COMPANY MAINT CTL. I DESCRIBED THE SIT AND SUGGESTED THAT THE PROB WAS THE #2 COMPASS. WE EXAMINED THE MEL AND MAINT CTL ASSURED ME THAT OUR PROCS AND THE DISCREPANCY ALLOWED FOR THE ACFT TO BE FLOWN. I FLEW THE ACFT ON 3 CONSECUTIVE LEGS WITH NO INCIDENTS. LATER ON, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ACFT WAS INDEED NOT AIRWORTHY AND THAT I HAD FLOWN IT ILLEGALLY. THE PROB: I RELIED ON 'EXPERTS' TO DETERMINE THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE ACFT.
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.