Dispatcher reports open MEL item that may have resulted in aircraft being dispatched in noncomplianc...

Attributes
ACN	782746
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rjaa.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other
ASRS Report	782746
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was working on the release for aircraft X and saw that MEL was open. I noticed that the takeoff weight was to be adjusted by tps or as specified in performance; non-normals -- gear down operation; but that there was no table specifying what the performance decrement was in the MEL. I ran tps and was surprised to see a 100000 pound reduction on takeoff. I then looked up to see if that was correct; which it was. It looks like the placard was opened in ZZZ for ZZZ-nrt before departure; and that the correction was not applied correctly on that flight. The chart in performance; non-normals -- gear down operation; takeoff performance corrections; should be included in the MEL so it would be more obvious that a significant penalty is involved. Maintenance was able to clear the placard before departure from nrt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCHER REPORTS OPEN MEL ITEM THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN ACFT BEING DISPATCHED IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THAT MEL.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING ON THE RELEASE FOR ACFT X AND SAW THAT MEL WAS OPEN. I NOTICED THAT THE TKOF WT WAS TO BE ADJUSTED BY TPS OR AS SPECIFIED IN PERFORMANCE; NON-NORMALS -- GEAR DOWN OP; BUT THAT THERE WAS NO TABLE SPECIFYING WHAT THE PERFORMANCE DECREMENT WAS IN THE MEL. I RAN TPS AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A 100000 LB REDUCTION ON TKOF. I THEN LOOKED UP TO SEE IF THAT WAS CORRECT; WHICH IT WAS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PLACARD WAS OPENED IN ZZZ FOR ZZZ-NRT BEFORE DEP; AND THAT THE CORRECTION WAS NOT APPLIED CORRECTLY ON THAT FLT. THE CHART IN PERFORMANCE; NON-NORMALS -- GEAR DOWN OP; TKOF PERFORMANCE CORRECTIONS; SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE MEL SO IT WOULD BE MORE OBVIOUS THAT A SIGNIFICANT PENALTY IS INVOLVED. MAINT WAS ABLE TO CLR THE PLACARD BEFORE DEP FROM NRT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Dispatcher reports open MEL item that may have resulted in aircraft being dispatched in noncompliance with that MEL.