The flight crew of a B747 accepted an aircraft for an extended overwater flight upon assurance from ...

Attributes
ACN	922139
Time
Date	201012
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Liferaft
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 24000 Flight Crew Type 8000
Person 2
Function	Relief Pilot First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 8000 Flight Crew Type 350
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural MEL Deviation - Procedural FAR Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

Narrative:

We arrived at the aircraft to operate an extended overwater cargo flight. We found that the aircraft had arrived with only one of the two normally installed life rafts on board. The log book showed one raft removed per a deferred maintenance item. In the minimum equipment list manual the raft was deferred under 25-4 which covers non essential furnishings [nef]. That part of the MEL refers to an appendix a for a listing of nef items. We could not find the raft in this list.I placed a call to our dispatcher to inquire about the legality of this deferral. The dispatcher contacted maintenance control and then the director of operations. They confirmed to me that we were legal to operate the aircraft. After arrival I was able to review far 121.339 and felt that two rafts were required for our extended overwater operation. I called our fleet chief pilot and expressed my concerns about the operation of that trip. After reviewing the far he agreed that the flight required 2 rafts. I believe this incident happened due to a complete lack of understanding of fars and MEL requirements by our maintenance department and the director of operations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The flight crew of a B747 accepted an aircraft for an extended overwater flight upon assurance from Maintenance and Flight Operations Managers that it was legal to do so with one of two life rafts removed per the MEL/CDL. A review of the FARs and MEL/CDL information following the flight showed dispatch should not have been permitted.

Narrative: We arrived at the aircraft to operate an extended overwater cargo flight. We found that the aircraft had arrived with only one of the two normally installed life rafts on board. The log book showed one raft removed per a deferred maintenance item. In the Minimum Equipment List Manual the raft was deferred under 25-4 which covers Non Essential Furnishings [NEF]. That part of the MEL refers to an Appendix A for a listing of NEF items. We could not find the raft in this list.I placed a call to our Dispatcher to inquire about the legality of this deferral. The Dispatcher contacted Maintenance Control and then the Director of Operations. They confirmed to me that we were legal to operate the aircraft. After arrival I was able to review FAR 121.339 and felt that two rafts were required for our extended overwater operation. I called our Fleet Chief Pilot and expressed my concerns about the operation of that trip. After reviewing the FAR he agreed that the flight required 2 rafts. I believe this incident happened due to a complete lack of understanding of FARs and MEL requirements by our Maintenance Department and the Director of Operations.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.