Narrative:

On oct/thu/91, it was discovered by an FAA ramp check in sea, in the cabin of our aircraft, that an overhead bin door was improperly deferred. The bin had been deferred in sna on oct/fri/91. Although the bin was deferred in accordance with the MEL procedures, the overhead bin contained a portable breathing equipment unit. The procedures in the MEL covers overhead bins under a blanket statement. The MEL procedures are being revised to exclude the deferral of overhead bins containing medical, emergency, and portable breathing equipment. In review of this incident, I do not feel that the safety of the passenger or crew were jeopardized as a second portable breathing unit was located in the immediate vicinity. The incident has also allowed us to take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMUTER MLG IS OPERATED FOR 6 DAYS WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH MEL REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: ON OCT/THU/91, IT WAS DISCOVERED BY AN FAA RAMP CHK IN SEA, IN THE CABIN OF OUR ACFT, THAT AN OVERHEAD BIN DOOR WAS IMPROPERLY DEFERRED. THE BIN HAD BEEN DEFERRED IN SNA ON OCT/FRI/91. ALTHOUGH THE BIN WAS DEFERRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEL PROCS, THE OVERHEAD BIN CONTAINED A PORTABLE BREATHING EQUIP UNIT. THE PROCS IN THE MEL COVERS OVERHEAD BINS UNDER A BLANKET STATEMENT. THE MEL PROCS ARE BEING REVISED TO EXCLUDE THE DEFERRAL OF OVERHEAD BINS CONTAINING MEDICAL, EMER, AND PORTABLE BREATHING EQUIP. IN REVIEW OF THIS INCIDENT, I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE SAFETY OF THE PAX OR CREW WERE JEOPARDIZED AS A SECOND PORTABLE BREATHING UNIT WAS LOCATED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THE INCIDENT HAS ALSO ALLOWED US TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE.

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.