Narrative:

When I got the dispatch release for the flight, there was a MEL note for an inoperative oil quantity gauge. The MEL states that the oil quantity must be visually checked at each refueling (to assure the quantity is sufficient for the flight). I checked with the maintenance controller to make sure the requirement would be met at our destination and she agreed to make the arrangement. On arrival at the aircraft, I looked back through the logbook to make sure any write-ups had been cleared and that the required daily checks had been accomplished. There were verifications of visual checks of the oil. No problem. We departed to cos. On arrival, there was a contract mechanic who would accomplish and sign off the check. I began to enter the write-up in the logbook and I realized that it had not been entered in phx, which is a maintenance base. We finished the check and logbook entries and proceeded to las, which is a maintenance base as well, and informed them of the need for a visual check. The mechanic who met the flight said he was aware of the need for an oil check because it was assigned by the lead before the aircraft even arrived. I believe that is how it should be done. While I realize that the captain has the final responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft, I also believe that if it is a maintenance function, the maintenance should be accountable for its work.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CAPT FOUND THAT A LOGBOOK ITEM HAD NOT BEEN ENTERED PER THE MEL.

Narrative: WHEN I GOT THE DISPATCH RELEASE FOR THE FLT, THERE WAS A MEL NOTE FOR AN INOP OIL QUANTITY GAUGE. THE MEL STATES THAT THE OIL QUANTITY MUST BE VISUALLY CHKED AT EACH REFUELING (TO ASSURE THE QUANTITY IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE FLT). I CHKED WITH THE MAINT CTLR TO MAKE SURE THE REQUIREMENT WOULD BE MET AT OUR DEST AND SHE AGREED TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENT. ON ARR AT THE ACFT, I LOOKED BACK THROUGH THE LOGBOOK TO MAKE SURE ANY WRITE-UPS HAD BEEN CLRED AND THAT THE REQUIRED DAILY CHKS HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THERE WERE VERIFICATIONS OF VISUAL CHKS OF THE OIL. NO PROB. WE DEPARTED TO COS. ON ARR, THERE WAS A CONTRACT MECH WHO WOULD ACCOMPLISH AND SIGN OFF THE CHK. I BEGAN TO ENTER THE WRITE-UP IN THE LOGBOOK AND I REALIZED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN ENTERED IN PHX, WHICH IS A MAINT BASE. WE FINISHED THE CHK AND LOGBOOK ENTRIES AND PROCEEDED TO LAS, WHICH IS A MAINT BASE AS WELL, AND INFORMED THEM OF THE NEED FOR A VISUAL CHK. THE MECH WHO MET THE FLT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR AN OIL CHK BECAUSE IT WAS ASSIGNED BY THE LEAD BEFORE THE ACFT EVEN ARRIVED. I BELIEVE THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE. WHILE I REALIZE THAT THE CAPT HAS THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFE OP OF THE ACFT, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF IT IS A MAINT FUNCTION, THE MAINT SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS WORK.

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.