A320 captain finds improper maintenance placarding of MEL item. Feels such errors are increasing.

Attributes
ACN	808631
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 139 flight time total : 13080 flight time type : 2050
ASRS Report	808631
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper documentation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Arrived at plane to find MEL ignition system 'a' inoperative. Upon reviewing MEL; I did not find the deferred number decal adjacent to the engine mode selector as stated in the specifications notes; maintenance; a. I then performed that step. Later I found the deferred number decal next to the manual start valve switch. While I understand this error is not life threatening; it is indicative of the maintenance procedures I am finding more and more. Too many of the deferrals I receive have some error in them. This incorrect step did not cause a problem this time. What about next time?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CAPTAIN FINDS IMPROPER MAINT PLACARDING OF MEL ITEM. FEELS SUCH ERRORS ARE INCREASING.

Narrative: ARRIVED AT PLANE TO FIND MEL IGNITION SYS 'A' INOP. UPON REVIEWING MEL; I DID NOT FIND THE DEFERRED NUMBER DECAL ADJACENT TO THE ENG MODE SELECTOR AS STATED IN THE SPECS NOTES; MAINT; A. I THEN PERFORMED THAT STEP. LATER I FOUND THE DEFERRED NUMBER DECAL NEXT TO THE MANUAL START VALVE SWITCH. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THIS ERROR IS NOT LIFE THREATENING; IT IS INDICATIVE OF THE MAINT PROCS I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE. TOO MANY OF THE DEFERRALS I RECEIVE HAVE SOME ERROR IN THEM. THIS INCORRECT STEP DID NOT CAUSE A PROB THIS TIME. WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME?

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.