A maintenance controller describes the confusion that led to an MEL deferral of a #2 slat overhead a...

Narrative:

Crew reported number 2 slat on overhead and transit light was intermittent in flight and maintenance was checking it out downstairs [in the east/east compartment]. I told him [captain] to have maintenance call me when through checking. Maintenance called and said it was the number 3 slat and not the number 2; and he could find no faults. So MEL xx-X-04 was issued. After log page was entered into maintenance computer program; a co-worker notified me it was entered as krueger flap and not slat. Looked at aircraft routing and found it made a round trip (ZZZ/ZZZ1/ZZZ) and was en route back to (ZZZ). [I] took the aircraft out of service for repair. Better 'read back' procedure should have been followed. I thought the captain was reading his write-up; but I now do not believe it was written up yet; and the mechanic read back the MEL; and not the write-up. I should have asked him to read back the write-up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Maintenance Controller describes the confusion that led to an MEL deferral of a #2 Slat Overhead and Transit light intermittent in flight report; when in fact #3 Krueger flap was the discrepancy. The B737-300 aircraft was later removed from service for repairs.

Narrative: Crew reported Number 2 Slat on overhead and transit light was intermittent in flight and Maintenance was checking it out downstairs [in the E/E Compartment]. I told him [Captain] to have Maintenance call me when through checking. Maintenance called and said it was the Number 3 Slat and not the Number 2; and he could find no faults. So MEL XX-X-04 was issued. After log page was entered into Maintenance Computer Program; a co-worker notified me it was entered as Krueger flap and not slat. Looked at aircraft routing and found it made a round trip (ZZZ/ZZZ1/ZZZ) and was en route back to (ZZZ). [I] took the aircraft out of service for repair. Better 'read back' procedure should have been followed. I thought the Captain was reading his write-up; but I now do not believe it was written up yet; and the Mechanic read back the MEL; and not the write-up. I should have asked him to read back the write-up.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1121176
Time
Date	201310
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Component
Aircraft Component	Flap/Slat Indication
Person 1
Function	Technician
Qualification	Maintenance Airframe Maintenance Powerplant
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A maintenance controller describes the confusion that led to an MEL deferral of a #2 slat overhead and transit light intermittent in flight report; when in fact #3 krueger flap was the discrepancy. The B737-300 aircraft was later removed from service for repairs.