Narrative:

My partner and I were assigned to a dc-10-30 aircraft [in ZZZ]. On the post flight inspection we found 'tip tank 1 lo' alert displayed and created a write-up under chapter 28-40-00. We trouble shot and found the gravity fill valve to be inoperative (inop) 'open'. We then released the aircraft under MEL 28-13-01-C and followed the maintenance procedures per the MEL. Four days later; our manager informed us that we accomplished the MEL procedures incorrectly because the gravity fill valve was inop 'closed' via centralized fault display system (cfds) fuel system control (fsc); although we used the MEL [to defer] for valve inop 'opened'. We followed the steps under maintenance in the MEL to declare the gravity transfer system 'inop' via the cfds fsc (line replaceable unit) lru/reset; but were misled by step '1.C' in the MEL that states; verify the word 'inop' is displayed. The MEL does not continue on to say 'inop closed' or 'inop open'. We feel that the MEL should be more clear and state under [MEL] maintenance procedure step 1-C: 'verify the word 'inop open' or 'inop closed'. Our company is putting in an MEL change request to make the steps under the maintenance procedure clearer and to assure this does not happen in the future.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Two mechanics and a Line Inspector report there is a need to clarify MEL 28-13-01-C Maintenance Procedure to have Maintenance verify the tip tank transfer valve is 'INOP OPEN' or 'INOP CLOSED' when deferring the valve on a DC-10-30. MEL required 11;600 LBS of additional fuel that had not been loaded; forcing pilot to severely restrict number 2 engine performance.

Narrative: My partner and I were assigned to a DC-10-30 aircraft [in ZZZ]. On the post flight inspection we found 'tip tank 1 lo' alert displayed and created a write-up under Chapter 28-40-00. We trouble shot and found the gravity fill valve to be inoperative (inop) 'Open'. We then released the aircraft under MEL 28-13-01-C and followed the maintenance procedures per the MEL. Four days later; our Manager informed us that we accomplished the MEL procedures incorrectly because the gravity fill valve was inop 'Closed' via Centralized Fault Display System (CFDS) Fuel System Control (FSC); although we used the MEL [to defer] for valve inop 'Opened'. We followed the steps under Maintenance in the MEL to declare the gravity transfer system 'inop' via the CFDS FSC (Line Replaceable Unit) LRU/RESET; but were misled by Step '1.C' in the MEL that states; verify the word 'inop' is displayed. The MEL does not continue on to say 'inop closed' or 'inop open'. We feel that the MEL should be more clear and state under [MEL] Maintenance Procedure Step 1-C: 'Verify the word 'inop open' or 'inop closed'. Our company is putting in an MEL change request to make the steps under the maintenance procedure clearer and to assure this does not happen in the future.

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.