Air carrier medium large transport operated bos dca without complying with MEL requirement.

Attributes
ACN	196599
Time
Date	199112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17794 flight time type : 3517
ASRS Report	196599
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

The aircraft had an outstanding MEL regarding the thrust reverser. The procedure required for the reverser to be checked at each stop. Part of the special procedure stated that the reverser needs to be checked if actuated. Therefore I did not use the affected thrust reverser upon landing in washington. I noted same in logbook and thought that would be acceptable. After discussing this MEL with the maintenance supervisor at a later time he pointed out that the reverser must be checked at every stop regardless of whether it has been actuated. This is because the MEL is written that way even though the special procedure it refers you to isn't the MEL takes precedence. Moral of story: read your MEL's very carefully before leaving the gate and ask a lot of questions if there is any doubt of the intention of the MEL. P.south. The company is going to look into the matter to make sure the procedure reference is consistent with the MEL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG OPERATED BOS DCA WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH MEL REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: THE ACFT HAD AN OUTSTANDING MEL REGARDING THE THRUST REVERSER. THE PROC REQUIRED FOR THE REVERSER TO BE CHKED AT EACH STOP. PART OF THE SPECIAL PROC STATED THAT THE REVERSER NEEDS TO BE CHKED IF ACTUATED. THEREFORE I DID NOT USE THE AFFECTED THRUST REVERSER UPON LNDG IN WASHINGTON. I NOTED SAME IN LOGBOOK AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS MEL WITH THE MAINT SUPVR AT A LATER TIME HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REVERSER MUST BE CHKED AT EVERY STOP REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT HAS BEEN ACTUATED. THIS IS BECAUSE THE MEL IS WRITTEN THAT WAY EVEN THOUGH THE SPECIAL PROC IT REFERS YOU TO ISN'T THE MEL TAKES PRECEDENCE. MORAL OF STORY: READ YOUR MEL'S VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE LEAVING THE GATE AND ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT OF THE INTENTION OF THE MEL. P.S. THE COMPANY IS GOING TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER TO MAKE SURE THE PROC REF IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MEL.

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.