Narrative:

#3 engine generator deferred 6/91. #1 fuel quantity gauge deferred 6/91. FAA inspector to observe flight in medium large transport aircraft found old MEL write ups that did not comply with current MEL time limits. This aircraft has been flying for the past yr with these write ups. This is case where maintenance did not repair the aircraft and if we were to refuse the flight someone else would have flown it. We would not get paid. These items are not critical to safety of flight as long as the pilots are aware of them and take the proper procedures. Still not an excuse for maintenance not repairing the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CARGO ACFT FOUND UNAIRWORTHINESS ITEMS DURING A PREFLT INSPECTION IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH ACFT MEL.

Narrative: #3 ENG GENERATOR DEFERRED 6/91. #1 FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE DEFERRED 6/91. FAA INSPECTOR TO OBSERVE FLT IN MLG ACFT FOUND OLD MEL WRITE UPS THAT DID NOT COMPLY WITH CURRENT MEL TIME LIMITS. THIS ACFT HAS BEEN FLYING FOR THE PAST YR WITH THESE WRITE UPS. THIS IS CASE WHERE MAINT DID NOT REPAIR THE ACFT AND IF WE WERE TO REFUSE THE FLT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE FLOWN IT. WE WOULD NOT GET PAID. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT CRITICAL TO SAFETY OF FLT AS LONG AS THE PLTS ARE AWARE OF THEM AND TAKE THE PROPER PROCS. STILL NOT AN EXCUSE FOR MAINT NOT REPAIRING THE ACFT.

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.