Aircraft flown in violation of MEL restrs.

Attributes
ACN	291757
Time
Date	199412
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lbb
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 72
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zfw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 450 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	291757
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	291484
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

About 70 mi east of lbb, center gave us a choice of 9000 ft or FL230 because of an MOA en route. As of this date, all ATR 72's are restr from flying into known or forecast icing. With this restr in mind, we chose to climb to FL230. Preoccupied with the icing restr, we inadvertently forgot that the aircraft we were flying was MEL restr to a 1 bleed operation. The aircraft operating limitation for 1 bleed operation is FL200. Leveling off and doing the cruise check, we remembered that limitation. We immediately asked for lower. There were no pressurization problems encountered. The cockpit alert panel (cap) does have an air light indication to remind the crew there is some kind of air bleed problem. However, the proper procedure is to clear the cap in cockpit alert panel in case another problem should occur. My only suggestion to not duplicate this problem is to be more vigilant or to not operate the aircraft with so many restrs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT FLOWN IN VIOLATION OF MEL RESTRS.

Narrative: ABOUT 70 MI E OF LBB, CTR GAVE US A CHOICE OF 9000 FT OR FL230 BECAUSE OF AN MOA ENRTE. AS OF THIS DATE, ALL ATR 72'S ARE RESTR FROM FLYING INTO KNOWN OR FORECAST ICING. WITH THIS RESTR IN MIND, WE CHOSE TO CLB TO FL230. PREOCCUPIED WITH THE ICING RESTR, WE INADVERTENTLY FORGOT THAT THE ACFT WE WERE FLYING WAS MEL RESTR TO A 1 BLEED OP. THE ACFT OPERATING LIMITATION FOR 1 BLEED OP IS FL200. LEVELING OFF AND DOING THE CRUISE CHK, WE REMEMBERED THAT LIMITATION. WE IMMEDIATELY ASKED FOR LOWER. THERE WERE NO PRESSURIZATION PROBS ENCOUNTERED. THE COCKPIT ALERT PANEL (CAP) DOES HAVE AN AIR LIGHT INDICATION TO REMIND THE CREW THERE IS SOME KIND OF AIR BLEED PROB. HOWEVER, THE PROPER PROC IS TO CLR THE CAP IN COCKPIT ALERT PANEL IN CASE ANOTHER PROB SHOULD OCCUR. MY ONLY SUGGESTION TO NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROB IS TO BE MORE VIGILANT OR TO NOT OPERATE THE ACFT WITH SO MANY RESTRS.

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.