B737 flight crew reports being dispatched with an MEL requiring flight at FL250 and below. Enroute h...

Attributes
ACN	1006669
Time
Date	201204
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 419 Flight Crew Type 5500
Person 2
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 370
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural MEL Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

MEL 35-4-02 requires flight below FL250 with two unusable pobs [portable oxygen bottle]. Heavy weather and icing at filed FL240 dictated a climb above the weather for safety of flight. Captain exercised emergency authority and elected to climb out of the poor weather conditions. Note: during climb to get out of poor weather conditions; excessive engine vibration was noted on #2 engine and the engine vibration checklist had to be accomplished; suspected ice on the fan blades. Approximately 12 minutes of flight was conducted in the clear at FL340. Once passed heavy precipitation conditions; a descent back down to FL240 was made. Remainder of flight was uneventful and accomplished below FL250 per MEL 35-4-02.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reports being dispatched with an MEL requiring flight at FL250 and below. Enroute heavy weather and icing conditions are encountered and the crew elects to climb to FL340 until clear of the weather 12 minutes later.

Narrative: MEL 35-4-02 requires flight below FL250 with two unusable POBs [Portable Oxygen Bottle]. Heavy weather and icing at filed FL240 dictated a climb above the weather for safety of flight. Captain exercised emergency authority and elected to climb out of the poor weather conditions. Note: During climb to get out of poor weather conditions; excessive engine vibration was noted on #2 engine and the Engine Vibration Checklist had to be accomplished; suspected ice on the fan blades. Approximately 12 minutes of flight was conducted in the clear at FL340. Once passed heavy precipitation conditions; a descent back down to FL240 was made. Remainder of flight was uneventful and accomplished below FL250 per MEL 35-4-02.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.