An MD80 technician wants clarification on deferring a digital flight data recorder with its 3 day li...

Attributes
ACN	712500
Time
Date	200610
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
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	712500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : repair
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

All fleets are allowed to have the digital flight data recorder placarded inoperative for a period of 3 days. There are certain restrs that must be met prior to maintenance operations issuing a placard on the system. Certain stations are designated where a fix must be attempted prior to the placard being issued. One of the provisions is 'repair was attempted but not successful.' using the MD80 as an example; if no part is in stock; and the aircraft is ZZZ on a through flight; no repair can be attempted; then according to the MEL; the aircraft is in a 'no fix; no fly' condition and no placard can be issued. Or if the system has a fault other than a line replacement unit; is a part replaced to meet the guidance of the MEL? Aircraft have been removed from service on a through flight because of the way this MEL is interpreted. If the placard is issued; which is a 3 day placard; the aircraft should be allowed to operate in this condition and not be taken OTS because of the conditions mentioned in the MEL. Attempts to make a repair can be ongoing during that 3 day period.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 TECHNICIAN WANTS CLARIFICATION ON DEFERRING A DIGITAL FLT DATA RECORDER WITH ITS 3 DAY LIMIT.

Narrative: ALL FLEETS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE DIGITAL FLT DATA RECORDER PLACARDED INOP FOR A PERIOD OF 3 DAYS. THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRS THAT MUST BE MET PRIOR TO MAINT OPS ISSUING A PLACARD ON THE SYS. CERTAIN STATIONS ARE DESIGNATED WHERE A FIX MUST BE ATTEMPTED PRIOR TO THE PLACARD BEING ISSUED. ONE OF THE PROVISIONS IS 'REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED BUT NOT SUCCESSFUL.' USING THE MD80 AS AN EXAMPLE; IF NO PART IS IN STOCK; AND THE ACFT IS ZZZ ON A THROUGH FLT; NO REPAIR CAN BE ATTEMPTED; THEN ACCORDING TO THE MEL; THE ACFT IS IN A 'NO FIX; NO FLY' CONDITION AND NO PLACARD CAN BE ISSUED. OR IF THE SYS HAS A FAULT OTHER THAN A LINE REPLACEMENT UNIT; IS A PART REPLACED TO MEET THE GUIDANCE OF THE MEL? ACFT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM SVC ON A THROUGH FLT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS MEL IS INTERPED. IF THE PLACARD IS ISSUED; WHICH IS A 3 DAY PLACARD; THE ACFT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THIS CONDITION AND NOT BE TAKEN OTS BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS MENTIONED IN THE MEL. ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A REPAIR CAN BE ONGOING DURING THAT 3 DAY PERIOD.

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.

An MD80 technician wants clarification on deferring a digital flight data recorder with its 3 day limit.