The reporter had 5 items on the MEL in the cockpit. Two of these items were automatic spoiler inoperative and #3 reverser inoperative. The reporter felt that since both related to braking performance that the combination was not addressed. The flight was dispatched as is.

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Attributes
ACN	325410
Time
Date	199601
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011 Tri-Star All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	325410
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Our head of maintenance proudly stated that the airline's fleet was averaging '1.5 maintenance carryover items per aircraft with 50 percent of those being cabin items only.' guess we beat the odds the other night with 5 items and all were in the cockpit. What was most distressing was combination of 2 items. Both the automatic ground spoilers and the #3 engine thrust reverser had been written up 3 days earlier. By themselves, each item required no special consideration according to the MEL. In combination the matter wasn't even addressed. Both these system affect stopping capability during an aborted takeoff or normal landing. Imagine the impact with an engine out (other than #3) or a hydraulic malfunction. This situation clearly substantiates the fears pilots expressed when the company announced it was cutting back maintenance. We expressed concern over the lack of MEL guidance on multiple items that may compound problems. Someone needs to investigate airline companies for maintenance practices leading to these problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE RPTR HAD 5 ITEMS ON THE MEL IN THE COCKPIT. TWO OF THESE ITEMS WERE AUTO SPOILER INOP AND #3 REVERSER INOP. THE RPTR FELT THAT SINCE BOTH RELATED TO BRAKING PERFORMANCE THAT THE COMBINATION WAS NOT ADDRESSED. THE FLT WAS DISPATCHED AS IS.

Narrative: OUR HEAD OF MAINT PROUDLY STATED THAT THE AIRLINE'S FLEET WAS AVERAGING '1.5 MAINT CARRYOVER ITEMS PER ACFT WITH 50 PERCENT OF THOSE BEING CABIN ITEMS ONLY.' GUESS WE BEAT THE ODDS THE OTHER NIGHT WITH 5 ITEMS AND ALL WERE IN THE COCKPIT. WHAT WAS MOST DISTRESSING WAS COMBINATION OF 2 ITEMS. BOTH THE AUTO GND SPOILERS AND THE #3 ENG THRUST REVERSER HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP 3 DAYS EARLIER. BY THEMSELVES, EACH ITEM REQUIRED NO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION ACCORDING TO THE MEL. IN COMBINATION THE MATTER WASN'T EVEN ADDRESSED. BOTH THESE SYS AFFECT STOPPING CAPABILITY DURING AN ABORTED TKOF OR NORMAL LNDG. IMAGINE THE IMPACT WITH AN ENG OUT (OTHER THAN #3) OR A HYD MALFUNCTION. THIS SIT CLRLY SUBSTANTIATES THE FEARS PLTS EXPRESSED WHEN THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WAS CUTTING BACK MAINT. WE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE LACK OF MEL GUIDANCE ON MULTIPLE ITEMS THAT MAY COMPOUND PROBS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AIRLINE COMPANIES FOR MAINT PRACTICES LEADING TO THESE PROBS.

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.