Narrative:

On oct/xa/98 I was a first officer on air carrier cargo XXXX from ramstein air base, germany, to kuwait city, kuwait. The aircraft was flown to ramstein air base by another crew. According to the inbound flight mechanic, the right wingtip navigation light lens cover was discovered missing upon arrival in ramstein. The MEL allows the aircraft to continue to operate with the following: 1) a placard be installed, 2) an airspeed limiting switch be installed, 3) takeoff and climb decrements. When the flight crew arrived the flight mechanic had already signed off the aircraft's logbook, saying that the MEL had been complied with. In fact, the requirements of the MEL were not completely complied with. We, as the crew, assume responsibility, however, air carrier cargo maintenance signed it off. Supplemental information from acn 417378: when I arrived at the aircraft, the logbook was already 'signed off' indicating compliance with the mels. In fact, the requirements of the mels were not complied with fully. The required placard and airspeed switch were not installed. Acting as flight engineer, I am responsible for this ultimately. I must, however, question at what point can I be assured that logbook entries by maintenance are accurate and completely complied with.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 CREW ACCEPTED A MAINT DEFERRAL OF AN MEL ITEM THAT WAS IMPROPER. THE ITEM DID NOT MEET THE TERMS OF MEL DEFERRAL.

Narrative: ON OCT/XA/98 I WAS A FO ON ACR CARGO XXXX FROM RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY, TO KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO RAMSTEIN AIR BASE BY ANOTHER CREW. ACCORDING TO THE INBOUND FLT MECH, THE R WINGTIP NAV LIGHT LENS COVER WAS DISCOVERED MISSING UPON ARR IN RAMSTEIN. THE MEL ALLOWS THE ACFT TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1) A PLACARD BE INSTALLED, 2) AN AIRSPD LIMITING SWITCH BE INSTALLED, 3) TKOF AND CLB DECREMENTS. WHEN THE FLC ARRIVED THE FLT MECH HAD ALREADY SIGNED OFF THE ACFT'S LOGBOOK, SAYING THAT THE MEL HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH. IN FACT, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MEL WERE NOT COMPLETELY COMPLIED WITH. WE, AS THE CREW, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY, HOWEVER, ACR CARGO MAINT SIGNED IT OFF. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 417378: WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE ACFT, THE LOGBOOK WAS ALREADY 'SIGNED OFF' INDICATING COMPLIANCE WITH THE MELS. IN FACT, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MELS WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH FULLY. THE REQUIRED PLACARD AND AIRSPD SWITCH WERE NOT INSTALLED. ACTING AS FE, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ULTIMATELY. I MUST, HOWEVER, QUESTION AT WHAT POINT CAN I BE ASSURED THAT LOGBOOK ENTRIES BY MAINT ARE ACCURATE AND COMPLETELY COMPLIED WITH.

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.