B737 flight crew reported the use of an incorrect MEL.

Attributes
ACN	1749565
Time
Date	202007
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Ignition Electrical Supply
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Type 5500
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55 Flight Crew Type 23000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural MEL

Narrative:

During initial pushback and starting the #2 engine on right ignition; the #2 engine failed to light off. The crew completed the QRH for an aborted engine start. There were no circuit breakers open when the crew looked. The captain contacted dispatch/maintenance and notified maintenance that the #2 engine failed to light off. Maintenance asked that the crew attempt a second start. That was accomplished with the same failure to light off; the QRH for an aborted engine start was completed a second time.maintenance advised the captain that the right ignition could be placed on MEL via pilot action if the motor started normally on the left ignition; the crew completed a normal start on the left ignition. Maintenance and the captain completed the MEL procedure while the first officer (first officer) notified ground control and the passengers that we were going to be delayed for a few minutes; but would be taxiing out shortly.once the captain completed the MEL paperwork; the flight taxied out and departed normally. Upon arrival in ZZZ1 the crew was informed that a maintenance technician was required to apply the MEL to the right ignition and that only the left ignition could be completed as a pilot action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported the use of an incorrect MEL.

Narrative: During initial pushback and starting the #2 engine on right ignition; the #2 engine failed to light off. The crew completed the QRH for an aborted engine start. There were no circuit breakers open when the crew looked. The Captain contacted Dispatch/Maintenance and notified Maintenance that the #2 engine failed to light off. Maintenance asked that the crew attempt a second start. That was accomplished with the same failure to light off; the QRH for an aborted engine start was completed a second time.Maintenance advised the Captain that the right ignition could be placed on MEL via pilot action if the motor started normally on the left ignition; the crew completed a normal start on the left ignition. Maintenance and the Captain completed the MEL procedure while the FO (First Officer) notified Ground Control and the passengers that we were going to be delayed for a few minutes; but would be taxiing out shortly.Once the Captain completed the MEL paperwork; the flight taxied out and departed normally. Upon arrival in ZZZ1 the crew was informed that a Maintenance Technician was required to apply the MEL to the right ignition and that only the left ignition could be completed as a pilot action.

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.