Flew at night even though MEL prohibited it due to inoperative altimeter.

Attributes
ACN	101568
Time
Date	198812
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dal
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	101568
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As first officer with a 121 carrier I have grown accustomed to letting the captain review the log book for MEL items and ensuring that there were no items that would restrict our operation. Well this wasn't the case, the aircraft that I had swapped to had an MEL item (standby altimeter) which restr the operation to day VMC only. The first leg was day VMC, the second and final leg was at night VMC but didn't comply with the operation limitations of the MEL. First officer's are crew members too! And have as much responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft. My advice as first officer is to make sure you always cover yourself all the time and don't ever assume the captain will never overlook an item.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLEW AT NIGHT EVEN THOUGH MEL PROHIBITED IT DUE TO INOPERATIVE ALTIMETER.

Narrative: AS F/O WITH A 121 CARRIER I HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO LETTING THE CAPT REVIEW THE LOG BOOK FOR MEL ITEMS AND ENSURING THAT THERE WERE NO ITEMS THAT WOULD RESTRICT OUR OPERATION. WELL THIS WASN'T THE CASE, THE ACFT THAT I HAD SWAPPED TO HAD AN MEL ITEM (STANDBY ALTIMETER) WHICH RESTR THE OPERATION TO DAY VMC ONLY. THE FIRST LEG WAS DAY VMC, THE SECOND AND FINAL LEG WAS AT NIGHT VMC BUT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH THE OPERATION LIMITATIONS OF THE MEL. F/O'S ARE CREW MEMBERS TOO! AND HAVE AS MUCH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE ACFT. MY ADVICE AS F/O IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS COVER YOURSELF ALL THE TIME AND DON'T EVER ASSUME THE CAPT WILL NEVER OVERLOOK AN ITEM.

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.