Aircraft flown illegally in violation of minimum equipment list.

Attributes
ACN	109618
Time
Date	198904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abq
State Reference	NM
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	109618
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 255 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 8635
ASRS Report	109534
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

During engine start #1 engine could not be started due to the lack of normal ignition. The #1 ignition circuit breaker's were confirmed 'in,' and after a waiting period, a second engine start was attempted west/O success. We returned to the gate, notified dispatch and maintenance control of the problem. We were told my maintenance control to defer the ignition problem under MEL 74-1. The engine was then started using manual engine bleed procedures and flight ignition. Later that day, after reviewing the ignition problem, we realized MEL 74-1 was not an authority to defer the start ignition system of the medium large transport X. Additionally, MEL 74-2 did not authorize deferment of the -X start ignition. There was no authority to defer the -X start ignition. Suggestion reword MEL 74-1, '-Y only,' and MEL 74-2, '-X only.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT FLOWN ILLEGALLY IN VIOLATION OF MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST.

Narrative: DURING ENG START #1 ENG COULD NOT BE STARTED DUE TO THE LACK OF NORMAL IGNITION. THE #1 IGNITION CB'S WERE CONFIRMED 'IN,' AND AFTER A WAITING PERIOD, A SECOND ENG START WAS ATTEMPTED W/O SUCCESS. WE RETURNED TO THE GATE, NOTIFIED DISPATCH AND MAINT CTL OF THE PROB. WE WERE TOLD MY MAINT CTL TO DEFER THE IGNITION PROB UNDER MEL 74-1. THE ENG WAS THEN STARTED USING MANUAL ENG BLEED PROCS AND FLT IGNITION. LATER THAT DAY, AFTER REVIEWING THE IGNITION PROB, WE REALIZED MEL 74-1 WAS NOT AN AUTHORITY TO DEFER THE START IGNITION SYS OF THE MLG X. ADDITIONALLY, MEL 74-2 DID NOT AUTHORIZE DEFERMENT OF THE -X START IGNITION. THERE WAS NO AUTHORITY TO DEFER THE -X START IGNITION. SUGGESTION REWORD MEL 74-1, '-Y ONLY,' AND MEL 74-2, '-X ONLY.'

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.