A mechanic deferred an item incorrectly. MEL was misinterpreted.

Attributes
ACN	319049
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	319049
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

B727-200 on the ground in cleveland. The captain's seat forward and aft adjustment would not lock (hydraulic seat). The mechanic was able to lock the seat in an acceptable position for the captain. The maintenance manual allows for deferral of certain functions of the seat to be inoperative. The forward and aft adjustment must be operational. However there is a note that states the items listed in the maintenance manual for deferral must be acceptable to the flight crew. The captain and myself misinterpreted the note because this particular adjustment does not apply. I feel the note should be re- worded to say: all deferrable items listed in this document are subject to crew acceptance. I am in the process of having the document changed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MECH DEFERRED AN ITEM INCORRECTLY. MEL WAS MISINTERPRETED.

Narrative: B727-200 ON THE GND IN CLEVELAND. THE CAPT'S SEAT FORWARD AND AFT ADJUSTMENT WOULD NOT LOCK (HYD SEAT). THE MECH WAS ABLE TO LOCK THE SEAT IN AN ACCEPTABLE POS FOR THE CAPT. THE MAINT MANUAL ALLOWS FOR DEFERRAL OF CERTAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE SEAT TO BE INOP. THE FORWARD AND AFT ADJUSTMENT MUST BE OPERATIONAL. HOWEVER THERE IS A NOTE THAT STATES THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE MAINT MANUAL FOR DEFERRAL MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE FLC. THE CAPT AND MYSELF MISINTERPRETED THE NOTE BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR ADJUSTMENT DOES NOT APPLY. I FEEL THE NOTE SHOULD BE RE- WORDED TO SAY: ALL DEFERRABLE ITEMS LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE SUBJECT TO CREW ACCEPTANCE. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE DOCUMENT CHANGED.

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.