Narrative:

Prior to departure in bos, a mechanical problem was discovered with an auxiliary hydraulic pump. The pump was functional, but showed higher than normal pressure. The item was recorded in the aircraft log. Maintenance was informed of the problem and asked to relay problems to maintenance control and flight dispatch. The mechanic informed the crew that the hydraulic pump would be changed. At that point I (the captain) failed to follow the communication loop with maintenance in msp and flight dispatch, thinking the part would be replaced and no further action would be necessary. Approximately 10 mins to departure the mechanic returned to the aircraft with the log book and said they were checking to see if they could MEL the pump and what penalty, if any, would incur. Just mins prior to departure time the crew was informed they would place the pump on MEL placard and could depart bos with no weight penalty. I failed to contact flight dispatch to amend the flight release and the final weight papers did not reflect any penalty for takeoff. The weight data was sent via ACARS and the actual aircraft weight and takeoff data for 33L was within limits. In fact, there was a weight penalty and the aircraft did depart over weight with the performance restriction caused by the MEL item (the pump was however functional). Adherence to schedules should not take the place over good and complete communication between pilots, flight dispatchers and maintenance control.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG MADE A TKOF WITHOUT APPLYING A MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST WEIGHT PENALTY.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DEP IN BOS, A MECHANICAL PROB WAS DISCOVERED WITH AN AUX HYD PUMP. THE PUMP WAS FUNCTIONAL, BUT SHOWED HIGHER THAN NORMAL PRESSURE. THE ITEM WAS RECORDED IN THE ACFT LOG. MAINT WAS INFORMED OF THE PROB AND ASKED TO RELAY PROBS TO MAINT CTL AND FLT DISPATCH. THE MECH INFORMED THE CREW THAT THE HYD PUMP WOULD BE CHANGED. AT THAT POINT I (THE CAPT) FAILED TO FOLLOW THE COM LOOP WITH MAINT IN MSP AND FLT DISPATCH, THINKING THE PART WOULD BE REPLACED AND NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE NECESSARY. APPROX 10 MINS TO DEP THE MECH RETURNED TO THE ACFT WITH THE LOG BOOK AND SAID THEY WERE CHKING TO SEE IF THEY COULD MEL THE PUMP AND WHAT PENALTY, IF ANY, WOULD INCUR. JUST MINS PRIOR TO DEP TIME THE CREW WAS INFORMED THEY WOULD PLACE THE PUMP ON MEL PLACARD AND COULD DEPART BOS WITH NO WT PENALTY. I FAILED TO CONTACT FLT DISPATCH TO AMEND THE FLT RELEASE AND THE FINAL WT PAPERS DID NOT REFLECT ANY PENALTY FOR TKOF. THE WT DATA WAS SENT VIA ACARS AND THE ACTUAL ACFT WT AND TKOF DATA FOR 33L WAS WITHIN LIMITS. IN FACT, THERE WAS A WT PENALTY AND THE ACFT DID DEPART OVER WT WITH THE PERFORMANCE RESTRICTION CAUSED BY THE MEL ITEM (THE PUMP WAS HOWEVER FUNCTIONAL). ADHERENCE TO SCHEDULES SHOULD NOT TAKE THE PLACE OVER GOOD AND COMPLETE COM BTWN PLTS, FLT DISPATCHERS AND MAINT CTL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.