L1011 so did not enter an inspection item in the aircraft log as required by the MEL.

Attributes
ACN	505180
Time
Date	200103
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : egun.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011 Tri-Star All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	505180
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Our aircraft had an MEL on the turbine cooling air overheat system. The MEL requires a check and logbook entry before every flight. I saw the flight engineer do the check and we discussed the logbook entry. Unfortunately, I didn't watch him make the logbook entry and he forgot. I caught it on my postflt logbook check. I guess the reasonable reliance theory failed -- even though there was no safety issue, we still took off illegally. There was no time pressure, just carelessness. I guess I'll just have to hover over the flight engineer more, or possibly stick post-it notes on the checklist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: L1011 SO DID NOT ENTER AN INSPECTION ITEM IN THE ACFT LOG AS REQUIRED BY THE MEL.

Narrative: OUR ACFT HAD AN MEL ON THE TURBINE COOLING AIR OVERHEAT SYS. THE MEL REQUIRES A CHK AND LOGBOOK ENTRY BEFORE EVERY FLT. I SAW THE FE DO THE CHK AND WE DISCUSSED THE LOGBOOK ENTRY. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T WATCH HIM MAKE THE LOGBOOK ENTRY AND HE FORGOT. I CAUGHT IT ON MY POSTFLT LOGBOOK CHK. I GUESS THE REASONABLE RELIANCE THEORY FAILED -- EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE, WE STILL TOOK OFF ILLEGALLY. THERE WAS NO TIME PRESSURE, JUST CARELESSNESS. I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO HOVER OVER THE FE MORE, OR POSSIBLY STICK POST-IT NOTES ON THE CHKLIST.

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.