In a rush to get back on schedule after an ATC delay and fatigued from an insufficient sleep; flight crew of a B757 fail to recognize need for maintenance inspection for a MEL item before each departure.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	669295
Time
Date	200508
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 84 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	669295
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	669291
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

The event involved our flight departing without a required recurring inspection. The right main landing gear strut was deferred for leaking. The first two legs of the flight sequence were from mco to atl; and atl to cae. The first leg's departure was delayed 2 hours by ATC. Approximately 15 minutes into the delay; ATC lifted the ground delay and we hurried to the plane to complete the preflight. During review of the logbook; I observed the gear strut that had been deferred and inspected. We operated the first leg to atl and were further delayed by ATC during arrival. In atl I reviewed the logbook again; but overlooked that fact that an inspection and logbook entry was required before each flight. In cae; I discovered my error. I think a contributing factor was my haste to get our trip back on schedule. Also; fatigue from insufficient sleep during my previous rest period might have affected my concentration. In the future; I will make an extra effort to not allow delays to rush me in performing my duties.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IN A RUSH TO GET BACK ON SCHEDULE AFTER AN ATC DELAY AND FATIGUED FROM AN INSUFFICIENT SLEEP; FLT CREW OF A B757 FAIL TO RECOGNIZE NEED FOR MAINT INSPECTION FOR A MEL ITEM BEFORE EACH DEP.

Narrative: THE EVENT INVOLVED OUR FLT DEPARTING WITHOUT A REQUIRED RECURRING INSPECTION. THE RIGHT MAIN LNDG GEAR STRUT WAS DEFERRED FOR LEAKING. THE FIRST TWO LEGS OF THE FLT SEQUENCE WERE FROM MCO TO ATL; AND ATL TO CAE. THE FIRST LEG'S DEP WAS DELAYED 2 HOURS BY ATC. APPROX 15 MINUTES INTO THE DELAY; ATC LIFTED THE GROUND DELAY AND WE HURRIED TO THE PLANE TO COMPLETE THE PREFLT. DURING REVIEW OF THE LOGBOOK; I OBSERVED THE GEAR STRUT THAT HAD BEEN DEFERRED AND INSPECTED. WE OPERATED THE FIRST LEG TO ATL AND WERE FURTHER DELAYED BY ATC DURING ARR. IN ATL I REVIEWED THE LOGBOOK AGAIN; BUT OVERLOOKED THAT FACT THAT AN INSPECTION AND LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS REQUIRED BEFORE EACH FLT. IN CAE; I DISCOVERED MY ERROR. I THINK A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS MY HASTE TO GET OUR TRIP BACK ON SCHEDULE. ALSO; FATIGUE FROM INSUFFICIENT SLEEP DURING MY PREVIOUS REST PERIOD MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MY CONCENTRATION. IN THE FUTURE; I WILL MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO NOT ALLOW DELAYS TO RUSH ME IN PERFORMING MY DUTIES.

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.