Narrative:

The aircraft had been sitting for the previous 5 days. When we got to the aircraft there was a new maintenance item which they were working on and 2 items to be verified during our flight to ZZZ. This was MEL xx-xx. The APU restart was accomplished and the other was an in-flight verification of engines. We discussed and did not find an entry for monitoring engines and made no entry after everything remained within parameters. I was getting a check ride from a check airman and he offered to make the entries (including a new write up) in the logbook for me since we were now on approach to ZZZ.main factor was the flight plan was supposed to be locked out; so I could discuss the engine check and any entry needed with dispatch. That didn't happen as well as on the following flight when it could have been accomplished again. Delays and distractions with the ongoing maintenance item which kept us out of our seats for 2 hours and feeling rushed to get things going quickly; having passengers already on board; once we could sit down. My complacency having a check airman there in case I missed something.if flight plan needs to be locked out make it automatic for dispatch; so distractions or human error don't play a part. MEL xx-xx needs to be more specific as to what items need to be accomplished. A placard in the logbook would be helpful.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported maintenance items remained open after the aircraft had not flown in 5 days.

Narrative: The aircraft had been sitting for the previous 5 days. When we got to the aircraft there was a new maintenance item which they were working on and 2 items to be verified during our flight to ZZZ. This was MEL XX-XX. The APU restart was accomplished and the other was an in-flight verification of engines. We discussed and did not find an entry for monitoring engines and made no entry after everything remained within parameters. I was getting a check ride from a check airman and he offered to make the entries (including a new write up) in the logbook for me since we were now on approach to ZZZ.Main factor was the flight plan was supposed to be locked out; so I could discuss the engine check and any entry needed with Dispatch. That didn't happen as well as on the following flight when it could have been accomplished again. Delays and distractions with the ongoing maintenance item which kept us out of our seats for 2 hours and feeling rushed to get things going quickly; having passengers already on board; once we could sit down. My complacency having a check airman there in case I missed something.If flight plan needs to be locked out make it automatic for Dispatch; so distractions or human error don't play a part. MEL XX-XX needs to be more specific as to what items need to be accomplished. A placard in the logbook would be helpful.

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.