Minimum equipment list in error.

Attributes
ACN	83744
Time
Date	198803
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : jfk
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 11800 flight time type : 6100
ASRS Report	83774
Person 2
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

This problem arose because of an inaccurate MEL. We were scheduled to fly an large transport from dtw to mia, and while reviewing the aircraft logbook, noticed a deferred item that required additional research. That deferred item was an inoperative auxiliary vertical gyro. We checked the MEL in the large transport manual and found that it indicated, erroneously, that 2 gyros are installed and required for flight. The fact is that 3 gyros are installed, captain's, first officer's and the auxiliary. We contacted our dispatcher and maintenance control and were assured that all that was required were 2 gyros with separate power sources, which we had. The WX was good during all regimes of flight and we elected to accept the aircraft. According to our MEL, if no mention is made of a component, it is a required, no-go item. Obviously in this case, the MEL is in error by showing the installation of only 2 gyros, when in fact 3 are installed, each with separate power sources. In our judgement, the MEL is in error. No danger to the flight existed and the flight could and should have been continued. Our FAA approved, company written MEL should be corrected. Also, on the following day, flight from tpa to mem, different ship, the exact situation recurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST IN ERROR.

Narrative: THIS PROB AROSE BECAUSE OF AN INACCURATE MEL. WE WERE SCHEDULED TO FLY AN LGT FROM DTW TO MIA, AND WHILE REVIEWING THE ACFT LOGBOOK, NOTICED A DEFERRED ITEM THAT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL RESEARCH. THAT DEFERRED ITEM WAS AN INOP AUX VERT GYRO. WE CHKED THE MEL IN THE LGT MANUAL AND FOUND THAT IT INDICATED, ERRONEOUSLY, THAT 2 GYROS ARE INSTALLED AND REQUIRED FOR FLT. THE FACT IS THAT 3 GYROS ARE INSTALLED, CAPT'S, FO'S AND THE AUX. WE CONTACTED OUR DISPATCHER AND MAINT CTL AND WERE ASSURED THAT ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED WERE 2 GYROS WITH SEPARATE PWR SOURCES, WHICH WE HAD. THE WX WAS GOOD DURING ALL REGIMES OF FLT AND WE ELECTED TO ACCEPT THE ACFT. ACCORDING TO OUR MEL, IF NO MENTION IS MADE OF A COMPONENT, IT IS A REQUIRED, NO-GO ITEM. OBVIOUSLY IN THIS CASE, THE MEL IS IN ERROR BY SHOWING THE INSTALLATION OF ONLY 2 GYROS, WHEN IN FACT 3 ARE INSTALLED, EACH WITH SEPARATE PWR SOURCES. IN OUR JUDGEMENT, THE MEL IS IN ERROR. NO DANGER TO THE FLT EXISTED AND THE FLT COULD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTINUED. OUR FAA APPROVED, COMPANY WRITTEN MEL SHOULD BE CORRECTED. ALSO, ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, FLT FROM TPA TO MEM, DIFFERENT SHIP, THE EXACT SITUATION RECURRED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.