Narrative:

The following events occurred while I was acting in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher. At approximately XX15 hours, I received a radio call from air carrier X flight #Y. The B757 was about to depart las vegas, nv, to phoenix, az. The captain requested the addition of MEL placard #29-31-01 (hydraulic low system pressure light) to the dispatch release. This indicated to me that the MEL item was placed in the aircraft logbook and was in compliance with any maintenance related restrs. I then attempted to gain confirmation from maintenance control, which is co-located in my office. After observing the maintenance controller on the telephone, I dialed his intercom. I overheard him discussing the addition of the MEL with las vegas maintenance personnel. Of the opinion that his authority/authorized was forthcoming, I issued the addition of the MEL to the copilot. Wishing to enter the MEL addition to my log and computer file, I contacted the maintenance controller. At approximately XX25 hours, he informed me that he never issued the MEL authority/authorized to las vegas maintenance because the MEL was a no dispatch item. I inferred that the light was fixed in las vegas and was no longer in the logbook. At approximately XX30 hours, I encountered the captain of flight in person. He informed me that the MEL item was, in fact, carried in the logbook and dispatch release to phoenix. I then contacted the maintenance controller who informed me that las vegas personnel did issue the MEL without his authority/authorized. Clearly, this situation arose because of a lack of communication by all parties concerned.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCHER OF AN ACR LGT DISPATCHED ACFT IN ERROR WITH A NON DEFERRABLE, NO DISPATCH ITEM.

Narrative: THE FOLLOWING EVENTS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF ACFT DISPATCHER. AT APPROX XX15 HRS, I RECEIVED A RADIO CALL FROM ACR X FLT #Y. THE B757 WAS ABOUT TO DEPART LAS VEGAS, NV, TO PHOENIX, AZ. THE CAPT REQUESTED THE ADDITION OF MEL PLACARD #29-31-01 (HYD LOW SYS PRESSURE LIGHT) TO THE DISPATCH RELEASE. THIS INDICATED TO ME THAT THE MEL ITEM WAS PLACED IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK AND WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY MAINT RELATED RESTRS. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO GAIN CONFIRMATION FROM MAINT CTL, WHICH IS CO-LOCATED IN MY OFFICE. AFTER OBSERVING THE MAINT CTLR ON THE TELEPHONE, I DIALED HIS INTERCOM. I OVERHEARD HIM DISCUSSING THE ADDITION OF THE MEL WITH LAS VEGAS MAINT PERSONNEL. OF THE OPINION THAT HIS AUTH WAS FORTHCOMING, I ISSUED THE ADDITION OF THE MEL TO THE COPLT. WISHING TO ENTER THE MEL ADDITION TO MY LOG AND COMPUTER FILE, I CONTACTED THE MAINT CTLR. AT APPROX XX25 HRS, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE NEVER ISSUED THE MEL AUTH TO LAS VEGAS MAINT BECAUSE THE MEL WAS A NO DISPATCH ITEM. I INFERRED THAT THE LIGHT WAS FIXED IN LAS VEGAS AND WAS NO LONGER IN THE LOGBOOK. AT APPROX XX30 HRS, I ENCOUNTERED THE CAPT OF FLT IN PERSON. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE MEL ITEM WAS, IN FACT, CARRIED IN THE LOGBOOK AND DISPATCH RELEASE TO PHOENIX. I THEN CONTACTED THE MAINT CTLR WHO INFORMED ME THAT LAS VEGAS PERSONNEL DID ISSUE THE MEL WITHOUT HIS AUTH. CLRLY, THIS SIT AROSE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF COM BY ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.

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.