Narrative:

[A week prior] I flew this aircraft and wrote up the right fuel heat as inoperative. Maintenance cleared the item as 'operations checks okay'.today; I flew a [position ferry flight with a] mechanic on the flight. During the arrival the right fuel heat did not work. I called [the mechanic] to the cockpit and showed him that the fuel heat was not working. No rise in fuel temperature along with no blue fuel heat light. He checked circuit breakers and all were in. Beyond a doubt we all could see clearly that the fuel heat was not working! I told [the mechanic] that I would write it up and did; 'right fuel heat inoperative'; I put into the book.I briefed captain who was flying [the return leg] with passengers; that the right fuel heat was inoperative. I then left to get lunch. About 15 minutes later; I get a message to call the captain. He queried me about the write up further asking if I got a fuel temperature rise when I applied the fuel heat. I stated that there was no rise in fuel temperature. The captain told me that they deferred the indicator. This was clearly and knowingly an improper deferral since maintenance knew that the fuel heat was not working at all. When I found out; I went back down to the plane and spoke with the mechanic and the captain. The mechanic said that maintenance control told him to use that deferral. The captain did not accept that deferral and as a result maintenance changed out the valve; which they took off another aircraft.emphasize safety first in this company and not cut corners just to get a flight out and on its way.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD-80 pilot reported that following a logbook write up for a fuel temperature control problem; Maintenance personnel deferred the indication. Communication between the pilots prevented the flight from departing.

Narrative: [A week prior] I flew this aircraft and wrote up the right fuel heat as inoperative. Maintenance cleared the item as 'operations checks okay'.Today; I flew a [position ferry flight with a] mechanic on the flight. During the arrival the right fuel heat did not work. I called [the mechanic] to the cockpit and showed him that the fuel heat was not working. No rise in fuel temperature along with no blue fuel heat light. He checked circuit breakers and all were in. Beyond a doubt we all could see clearly that the fuel heat was not working! I told [the mechanic] that I would write it up and did; 'right fuel heat inoperative'; I put into the book.I briefed Captain who was flying [the return leg] with passengers; that the right fuel heat was inoperative. I then left to get lunch. About 15 minutes later; I get a message to call the Captain. He queried me about the write up further asking if I got a fuel temperature rise when I applied the fuel heat. I stated that there was no rise in fuel temperature. The Captain told me that they deferred the indicator. This was clearly and knowingly an improper deferral since maintenance knew that the fuel heat was not working at all. When I found out; I went back down to the plane and spoke with the mechanic and the Captain. The mechanic said that Maintenance Control told him to use that deferral. The Captain did not accept that deferral and as a result maintenance changed out the valve; which they took off another aircraft.Emphasize safety first in this company and not cut corners just to get a flight out and on its way.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.