Narrative:

We were 1 hour out from lax on our dfw-lax flight and noticed a mechanical problem with the captain's altimeter. As this was our aircraft for the return flight to dfw, some wanted it fixed at lax. So we sent the ACARS message to maintenance and started the logbook entry. Before the logbook entry was completed, a passenger medical emergency came to my attention that required diversion to phx. The logbook entry was not completed nor maintenance performed until we reached lax. Postflt review of the MEL told me that the mechanical discrepancy should have been recorded and either placarded or repaired at the point of first landing at phx instead of flight completion at lax.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD SUPER 80 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AN OPEN UNANSWERED LOG RPT ON THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER.

Narrative: WE WERE 1 HR OUT FROM LAX ON OUR DFW-LAX FLT AND NOTICED A MECHANICAL PROB WITH THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER. AS THIS WAS OUR ACFT FOR THE RETURN FLT TO DFW, SOME WANTED IT FIXED AT LAX. SO WE SENT THE ACARS MESSAGE TO MAINT AND STARTED THE LOGBOOK ENTRY. BEFORE THE LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS COMPLETED, A PAX MEDICAL EMER CAME TO MY ATTN THAT REQUIRED DIVERSION TO PHX. THE LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS NOT COMPLETED NOR MAINT PERFORMED UNTIL WE REACHED LAX. POSTFLT REVIEW OF THE MEL TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND EITHER PLACARDED OR REPAIRED AT THE POINT OF FIRST LNDG AT PHX INSTEAD OF FLT COMPLETION AT LAX.

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.