Narrative:

During preflight, I noted a hydraulic generator test switch installed in this aircraft, even though it was not placarded or listed in the operations manual volume 1 as an extended range aircraft. The installed test switch for the hydraulic generator led me to believe the airplane might be an extended range which would have major electrical differences compared to a domestic airplane. Subsequent test of the hydraulic generator failed to produce a proper test. Maintenance was called to assist maintenance also failed to get a proper test, at which time they requested I enter the item in the logbook. Subsequent inspection revealed that a hydraulic driven generator is not installed on this aircraft. This confusion resulted in a 34 min delay. After reaching cruise altitude and after sunrise, I noted someone had penciled on the panel 'inoperative.' this pencil entry was not visible with night lighting and may not be a legal placard. It is possible the aircraft has the wrong test panel installed or perhaps we need to install a proper placard to prevent others from being misled.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AN OVERHEAD TEST SWITCH AND LIGHT PANEL NOT IN EFFECT FOR THIS MODEL ACFT.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT, I NOTED A HYD GENERATOR TEST SWITCH INSTALLED IN THIS ACFT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT PLACARDED OR LISTED IN THE OPS MANUAL VOLUME 1 AS AN EXTENDED RANGE ACFT. THE INSTALLED TEST SWITCH FOR THE HYD GENERATOR LED ME TO BELIEVE THE AIRPLANE MIGHT BE AN EXTENDED RANGE WHICH WOULD HAVE MAJOR ELECTRICAL DIFFERENCES COMPARED TO A DOMESTIC AIRPLANE. SUBSEQUENT TEST OF THE HYD GENERATOR FAILED TO PRODUCE A PROPER TEST. MAINT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST MAINT ALSO FAILED TO GET A PROPER TEST, AT WHICH TIME THEY REQUESTED I ENTER THE ITEM IN THE LOGBOOK. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A HYD DRIVEN GENERATOR IS NOT INSTALLED ON THIS ACFT. THIS CONFUSION RESULTED IN A 34 MIN DELAY. AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALT AND AFTER SUNRISE, I NOTED SOMEONE HAD PENCILED ON THE PANEL 'INOP.' THIS PENCIL ENTRY WAS NOT VISIBLE WITH NIGHT LIGHTING AND MAY NOT BE A LEGAL PLACARD. IT IS POSSIBLE THE ACFT HAS THE WRONG TEST PANEL INSTALLED OR PERHAPS WE NEED TO INSTALL A PROPER PLACARD TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM BEING MISLED.

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.