An A319 was dispatched with the standby altimeter missing all 4 bugs. Item was carried forward in error as the MEL requires at least 1 bug.

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Attributes
ACN	704352
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 800 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	704352
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 215 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 5325
ASRS Report	704351
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : standby altimeter bug other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : installation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

During preflight checks; no bugs on standby altimeter (4 bugs on standby airspeed); sent log item; called maintenance controller on jetway phone; mechanic came to cockpit with bugs in hand; wouldn't work; he said must be wrong bugs; he said they'd carry forward it and left. Got new maintenance release document with it as carry forward item; pushed and took off for clt. In cruise; first officer noticed blank space on maintenance release document after action carry forward and thought there should be something there. Then we also noticed carry forward was for standby airspeed when log was for standby altimeter. Sent note to maintenance controller on ACARS. They said should be deferral not carry forward; they will correct it all in clt. Mechanic in clt corrected and placed placards on standby altitude and airspeed. Supplemental information from acn 704351: the missing bugs for the standby altimeter is in fact an MEL item. The MEL states that at least 1 bug must be present on the standby altimeter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE STANDBY ALTIMETER MISSING ALL 4 BUGS. ITEM WAS CARRIED FORWARD IN ERROR AS THE MEL REQUIRES AT LEAST 1 BUG.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT CHKS; NO BUGS ON STANDBY ALTIMETER (4 BUGS ON STANDBY AIRSPD); SENT LOG ITEM; CALLED MAINT CTLR ON JETWAY PHONE; MECH CAME TO COCKPIT WITH BUGS IN HAND; WOULDN'T WORK; HE SAID MUST BE WRONG BUGS; HE SAID THEY'D CARRY FORWARD IT AND LEFT. GOT NEW MAINT RELEASE DOCUMENT WITH IT AS CARRY FORWARD ITEM; PUSHED AND TOOK OFF FOR CLT. IN CRUISE; FO NOTICED BLANK SPACE ON MAINT RELEASE DOCUMENT AFTER ACTION CARRY FORWARD AND THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THERE. THEN WE ALSO NOTICED CARRY FORWARD WAS FOR STANDBY AIRSPD WHEN LOG WAS FOR STANDBY ALTIMETER. SENT NOTE TO MAINT CTLR ON ACARS. THEY SAID SHOULD BE DEFERRAL NOT CARRY FORWARD; THEY WILL CORRECT IT ALL IN CLT. MECH IN CLT CORRECTED AND PLACED PLACARDS ON STANDBY ALT AND AIRSPD. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 704351: THE MISSING BUGS FOR THE STANDBY ALTIMETER IS IN FACT AN MEL ITEM. THE MEL STATES THAT AT LEAST 1 BUG MUST BE PRESENT ON THE STANDBY ALTIMETER.

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.