Reporter implies that aircraft was dispatched with an illegal MEL deferment.

Attributes
ACN	256579
Time
Date	199311
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : stt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	256579
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other oversight : supervisor
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I'm supplying this information to all parties interested in the incident. This aircraft arrived at the gate and a ramp person informed me that the aft airstairs would not come down. Upon inspection, I determined that the downstairs handle assembly was in fact broken. I informed my assistant supervisor and got in touch with maintenance control. I was told by maintenance control that the problem was placardable. I gave him all information requested and placarded the aircraft. Please note that I did not have time to look at the MEL procedures and relied on this individual's experience and knowledge. I don't knowingly engage in illegal placarding. The stairs worked with inside handle and remained locked.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR IMPLIES THAT ACFT WAS DISPATCHED WITH AN ILLEGAL MEL DEFERMENT.

Narrative: I'M SUPPLYING THIS INFO TO ALL PARTIES INTERESTED IN THE INCIDENT. THIS ACFT ARRIVED AT THE GATE AND A RAMP PERSON INFORMED ME THAT THE AFT AIRSTAIRS WOULD NOT COME DOWN. UPON INSPECTION, I DETERMINED THAT THE DOWNSTAIRS HANDLE ASSEMBLY WAS IN FACT BROKEN. I INFORMED MY ASSISTANT SUPVR AND GOT IN TOUCH WITH MAINT CTL. I WAS TOLD BY MAINT CTL THAT THE PROB WAS PLACARDABLE. I GAVE HIM ALL INFO REQUESTED AND PLACARDED THE ACFT. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE MEL PROCS AND RELIED ON THIS INDIVIDUAL'S EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T KNOWINGLY ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL PLACARDING. THE STAIRS WORKED WITH INSIDE HANDLE AND REMAINED LOCKED.

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.