A320 crew was notified they had an improper MEL'ed item. The MEL'ed item was incorrectly, and errone...

Attributes
ACN	624147
Time
Date	200407
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cyvr.airport
State Reference	BC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	624147
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : training performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft had rudder load limiter deferred item. After both the captain and first officer's thorough review of the logbook, maintenance release document, and MEL, we found no further action required. We operated well within the safe guidelines and SOP. I recently received a notice that this item was incorrectly deferred. The actual problem was a misdeferral. The item that was supposed to be deferred was the rudder trim, which required a rudder trim test prior to each flight, and removal of CAT III status, and a new flight plan forecast. Since we had no way of knowing this misdeferral, we could not perform the proper steps.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW WAS NOTIFIED THEY HAD AN IMPROPER MEL'ED ITEM. THE MEL'ED ITEM WAS INCORRECTLY, AND ERRONEOUSLY DEFERRED.

Narrative: ACFT HAD RUDDER LOAD LIMITER DEFERRED ITEM. AFTER BOTH THE CAPT AND FO'S THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE LOGBOOK, MAINT RELEASE DOCUMENT, AND MEL, WE FOUND NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED. WE OPERATED WELL WITHIN THE SAFE GUIDELINES AND SOP. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THIS ITEM WAS INCORRECTLY DEFERRED. THE ACTUAL PROB WAS A MISDEFERRAL. THE ITEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEFERRED WAS THE RUDDER TRIM, WHICH REQUIRED A RUDDER TRIM TEST PRIOR TO EACH FLT, AND REMOVAL OF CAT III STATUS, AND A NEW FLT PLAN FORECAST. SINCE WE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THIS MISDEFERRAL, WE COULD NOT PERFORM THE PROPER STEPS.

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.

A320 crew was notified they had an improper MEL'ed item. The MEL'ed item was incorrectly, and erroneously deferred.