An air carrier large transport receives an EICAS message in-flight that should only happen on the gr...

Attributes
ACN	226257
Time
Date	199211
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : elp
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 41000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	226257
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	226751
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While in cruise, I discovered an EICAS message 'ovbd exh vai test.' per air carrier procedures we sent this to air carrier via ACARS. Return message had an MEL number. MEL stated no flight above 35000 (we were at 41000) and no cargo or combustible material is carried in the aft cargo compartment. I descended to FL330 phone patched with our tech people and continued the flight to dfw which was uneventful. There was cargo in the aft compartment and these messages (test) normally occur on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT RECEIVES AN EICAS MESSAGE INFLT THAT SHOULD ONLY HAPPEN ON THE GND.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE, I DISCOVERED AN EICAS MESSAGE 'OVBD EXH VAI TEST.' PER ACR PROCS WE SENT THIS TO ACR VIA ACARS. RETURN MESSAGE HAD AN MEL NUMBER. MEL STATED NO FLT ABOVE 35000 (WE WERE AT 41000) AND NO CARGO OR COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IS CARRIED IN THE AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT. I DSNDED TO FL330 PHONE PATCHED WITH OUR TECH PEOPLE AND CONTINUED THE FLT TO DFW WHICH WAS UNEVENTFUL. THERE WAS CARGO IN THE AFT COMPARTMENT AND THESE MESSAGES (TEST) NORMALLY OCCUR ON THE GND.

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.

An air carrier large transport receives an EICAS message in-flight that should only happen on the ground.