Narrative:

I was working two flights simultaneously. Aircraft Y was a through-flight from ZZZ1 going to ZZZ. Aircraft Y arrived with two discrepancies: 1) auto speed brakes did not deploy on landing; deployed manually. 2) center (center) autopilot would not engage on departure. I debriefed the flight crew then returned to aircraft X to take care of a few final items; and transfer the weight cart from aircraft X to aircraft Y. I pushed the first aircraft; (aircraft X); out of the gate which took longer than anticipated due to a 17-minute loading delay; and then returned to aircraft Y. Due to time constraints; I decided to contact maintenance control via cell phone to get MEL control numbers and place both discrepancies on MEL at aircraft Y rather than returning to the maintenance office. After discussing the discrepancies with maintenance control; it was decided to defer the auto speed brake discrepancy per MEL 27-62-01; and defer the center autopilot per MEL 22-10. Aircraft Y departed 14-minutes late. I later learned that due to the repetitive fault history of the auto pilot system on this particular aircraft Y; that the incorrect MEL reference was used for this deferral. Per the general maintenance manual (gmm) process; MEL reference 2X-03-02-C should have been used rather than MEL 22-10-01-a.[contributing factors] were human error. Rushing to get both aircraft out on-time. Failing to go back to the maintenance office and reviewing aircraft Y's history a second time. This is the first aircraft type that I have worked in my aviation career that is part of the lower landing minimums (llm) program. [Recommend that] periodically review gmm manual as a refresher and to note any changes to the reference. Review aircraft histories closer; [in order] to 'flag' any aircraft that have chronic problem histories of systems. Possibly have a system in maintenance computer that 'flags' aircraft with chronic fault histories on certain systems. Slow down and take the extra time needed to make sure all documentation is correct.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Mechanic working two B757 aircraft simultaneously at departure gates reports deferring a Center (CTR) Auto Pilot System using an incorrect MEL reference. Mechanic later learned one of the B757 aircraft had a history of repetitive faults on the Auto Pilot System requiring a different MEL reference.

Narrative: I was working two flights simultaneously. Aircraft Y was a through-flight from ZZZ1 going to ZZZ. Aircraft Y arrived with two discrepancies: 1) Auto Speed Brakes did not deploy on landing; deployed manually. 2) Center (CTR) Autopilot would not engage on departure. I debriefed the flight crew then returned to Aircraft X to take care of a few final items; and transfer the weight cart from Aircraft X to Aircraft Y. I pushed the first aircraft; (Aircraft X); out of the gate which took longer than anticipated due to a 17-minute loading delay; and then returned to Aircraft Y. Due to time constraints; I decided to contact Maintenance Control via cell phone to get MEL control numbers and place both discrepancies on MEL at Aircraft Y rather than returning to the Maintenance office. After discussing the discrepancies with Maintenance Control; it was decided to defer the Auto Speed Brake discrepancy per MEL 27-62-01; and defer the CTR Autopilot per MEL 22-10. Aircraft Y departed 14-minutes late. I later learned that due to the repetitive fault history of the Auto Pilot System on this particular Aircraft Y; that the incorrect MEL reference was used for this deferral. Per the General Maintenance Manual (GMM) process; MEL reference 2X-03-02-C should have been used rather than MEL 22-10-01-A.[Contributing factors] were Human error. Rushing to get both aircraft out on-time. Failing to go back to the Maintenance office and reviewing Aircraft Y's history a second time. This is the first aircraft type that I have worked in my aviation career that is part of the Lower Landing Minimums (LLM) Program. [Recommend that] periodically review GMM manual as a refresher and to note any changes to the reference. Review aircraft histories closer; [in order] to 'flag' any aircraft that have chronic problem histories of systems. Possibly have a system in Maintenance computer that 'flags' aircraft with chronic fault histories on certain systems. Slow down and take the extra time needed to make sure all documentation is correct.

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.