An MD88 was dispatched in non compliance with #2 galley carrier latches missing but not on the defer...

Attributes
ACN	523508
Time
Date	200108
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
Experience	maintenance technician : 16
ASRS Report	523508
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : coordinator
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : person 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Aug/mon/01, ZZZ placed some #2 galley miscellaneous carrier latches on maintenance carry over, MEL 25-00-11. Aug/thu/01, in concurrence with maintenance coordinator (yxx) the MEL was lifted, the item continued on maintenance carry over (deferred). I pointed out the miscellaneous carrier areas 2 each had, in this case missing latches. I interpreted the cabin discrepancy list 'miscellaneous carrier' item to mean these latches and consequently a non MEL item. Also, the aft galley miscellaneous carrier areas supported one less latch than #2 galley. Aug/thu/01, FAA inspector wanted to know under what authority/authorized/reference was the MEL restr removed. It was determined that the MEL should not have been lifted and the aircraft incurred a delay while repairs were effected. Aug/sun/01, I received knowledge of the occurrence. The cause of the problem, I believe, was interpretation of the cabin discrepancy list which led me to view the latch as an item not affecting airworthiness, and the fact that the fleets #2 galley supported 2, 3 and 4 latches in this exact location. So I surmised the remaining latches were sufficient.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH #2 GALLEY CARRIER LATCHES MISSING BUT NOT ON THE DEFERRED ITEM LIST.

Narrative: AUG/MON/01, ZZZ PLACED SOME #2 GALLEY MISCELLANEOUS CARRIER LATCHES ON MAINT CARRY OVER, MEL 25-00-11. AUG/THU/01, IN CONCURRENCE WITH MAINT COORDINATOR (YXX) THE MEL WAS LIFTED, THE ITEM CONTINUED ON MAINT CARRY OVER (DEFERRED). I POINTED OUT THE MISCELLANEOUS CARRIER AREAS 2 EACH HAD, IN THIS CASE MISSING LATCHES. I INTERPRETED THE CABIN DISCREPANCY LIST 'MISCELLANEOUS CARRIER' ITEM TO MEAN THESE LATCHES AND CONSEQUENTLY A NON MEL ITEM. ALSO, THE AFT GALLEY MISCELLANEOUS CARRIER AREAS SUPPORTED ONE LESS LATCH THAN #2 GALLEY. AUG/THU/01, FAA INSPECTOR WANTED TO KNOW UNDER WHAT AUTH/REF WAS THE MEL RESTR REMOVED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MEL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LIFTED AND THE ACFT INCURRED A DELAY WHILE REPAIRS WERE EFFECTED. AUG/SUN/01, I RECEIVED KNOWLEDGE OF THE OCCURRENCE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROB, I BELIEVE, WAS INTERP OF THE CABIN DISCREPANCY LIST WHICH LED ME TO VIEW THE LATCH AS AN ITEM NOT AFFECTING AIRWORTHINESS, AND THE FACT THAT THE FLEETS #2 GALLEY SUPPORTED 2, 3 AND 4 LATCHES IN THIS EXACT LOCATION. SO I SURMISED THE REMAINING LATCHES WERE SUFFICIENT.

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.

An MD88 was dispatched in non compliance with #2 galley carrier latches missing but not on the deferred item list.