Narrative:

Maintenance control received a ACARS (aircraft communication and reporting system) message from aircraft X in regards to TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system) being inoperative (inoperative). ACARS message: 'TCAS inoperative - navigation with associated ATC/XPDR2 and ads-B rptg 2'. I sent the flight crew a ACARS asking if the fault only dealt with the TCAS. They responded yes. I sent them a ACARS:1MSG from [maintenance]can you please place inoperative sticker; next to TCAS control panel and pull circuit breaker K10 on the 121VU panel and wrap a inoperative sticker around pulled circuit breaker.' I also sent them via ACARS the MEL which [maintenance control] was going to use for that fault. The intent of asking the flight crew to pull and collar a circuit breaker (circuit breaker) is more of a heads up that there is more that has to be carried out for this particular MEL. There is no expectation by [maintenance control] of having the flight crew perform this in flight. We at [maintenance control] do not expect the flight crew to pull and collar any circuit breaker in flight. The intent is to have the flight crew preform this action once on ground. This is a common practice at [maintenance control]; and when the flight crew responds back; 'will do'. We at [maintenance control] take this as they will accomplish this task as part of the MEL once on the ground. There is no rush on the part of [maintenance control]; because the system is already inoperative.I believe that adding 'accomplished this action once on ground only'; would definitely help in preventing any unwanted circuit breaker pull in flight. Also by adding a note to the MEL's which have circuit breaker pulls in their procedures that circuit breaker are not to be pulled while aircraft is in flight would also be a great help.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier Maintenance personnel reported an incident suggesting that the MEL be revised to clarify instructions to flight crew.

Narrative: Maintenance Control received a ACARS (Aircraft Communication And Reporting System) message from Aircraft X in regards to TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) being INOP (Inoperative). ACARS MESSAGE: 'TCAS INOP - NAV WITH ASSOCIATED ATC/XPDR2 AND ADS-B RPTG 2'. I sent the flight crew a ACARS asking if the fault only dealt with the TCAS. They responded yes. I sent them a ACARS:1MSG FROM [Maintenance]CAN YOU PLEASE PLACE INOP STICKER; NEXT TO TCAS CONTROL PANEL AND PULL CB K10 ON THE 121VU PANEL AND WRAP A INOP STICKER AROUND PULLED CB.' I also sent them via ACARS the MEL which [Maintenance Control] was going to use for that fault. The intent of asking the flight crew to pull and collar a CB (Circuit Breaker) is more of a heads up that there is more that has to be carried out for this particular MEL. There is no expectation by [Maintenance Control] of having the flight crew perform this in flight. We at [Maintenance Control] do not expect the flight crew to pull and collar any CB in flight. The intent is to have the flight crew preform this action once on ground. This is a common practice at [Maintenance Control]; and when the flight crew responds back; 'WILL DO'. We at [Maintenance Control] take this as they will accomplish this task as part of the MEL once on the ground. There is no rush on the part of [Maintenance Control]; because the system is already inoperative.I believe that adding 'accomplished this action once on ground only'; would definitely help in preventing any unwanted CB pull in flight. Also by adding a note to the MEL's which have CB pulls in their procedures that CB are not to be pulled while aircraft is in flight would also be a great help.

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.