An MD80 ACARS #3 VHF communication system was deferred as inoperative per the MEL. A repair was attempted and not completed. Deferred item was not updated on work accomplished.

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Attributes
ACN	655893
Time
Date	200503
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	655893
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : lead technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : repair
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I have just been informed that I possibly went beyond what MEL 23-14A states for deferring the ACARS system. While attempting to re-terminate the coax cable of the #3 VHF/ACARS system at the antenna; I found that the whole cable was bad and needed to be replaced. It is a huge job and it was determined that the MEL should continue. So I coiled and stowed the cable and; since I had already removed the connector from the cable; I was not able to connect it back to the antenna. I felt it was best to pull and collar the #3 VHF communication circuit breaker; which I did and noted it in the logbook.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 ACARS #3 VHF COM SYS WAS DEFERRED AS INOP PER THE MEL. A REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED AND NOT COMPLETED. DEFERRED ITEM WAS NOT UPDATED ON WORK ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: I HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT I POSSIBLY WENT BEYOND WHAT MEL 23-14A STATES FOR DEFERRING THE ACARS SYS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RE-TERMINATE THE COAX CABLE OF THE #3 VHF/ACARS SYS AT THE ANTENNA; I FOUND THAT THE WHOLE CABLE WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS A HUGE JOB AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MEL SHOULD CONTINUE. SO I COILED AND STOWED THE CABLE AND; SINCE I HAD ALREADY REMOVED THE CONNECTOR FROM THE CABLE; I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONNECT IT BACK TO THE ANTENNA. I FELT IT WAS BEST TO PULL AND COLLAR THE #3 VHF COM CIRCUIT BREAKER; WHICH I DID AND NOTED IT IN THE LOGBOOK.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.