An L1011-100 was dispatched in non compliance with both lights in the automatic ground speed brake h...

Attributes
ACN	429812
Time
Date	199902
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011-1 100/200/250
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
Experience	maintenance technician : 30
ASRS Report	429812
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other other : mech 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

The aircraft arrived with both lights in the automatic ground speed brake handle inoperative. Being unfamiliar with the system, I had maintenance relamp the handle to no avail. I decided to put the automatic ground spoilers on maintenance carryover (mco) using MEL #xx-yy-zz and the aircraft was dispatched. I did not know until the next day that the lights in the automatic ground spoilers handle were an indication of the automatic ground spoilers hydraulic assist being inoperative. There are 2 hydraulic assist system for the automatic ground spoilers and an indicator light for each system. For dispatch, one indicator light can be inoperative using MEL zz-ww-xx. As it turned out, maintenance found nothing wrong with the hydraulic assist for the automatic ground spoilers. The problem was found to be a bad ground for the indicator lights. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated he was unfamiliar with the purpose of the lights on the handle so the entire automatic spoiler system was deferred. The reporter said the deferral of both lights was not permitted. The reporter stated when he checked the MEL it was close to departure time and he just misread the manual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN L1011-100 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH LIGHTS IN THE AUTO GND SPD BRAKE HANDLE INOP IN CONFLICT WITH THE MEL REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: THE ACFT ARRIVED WITH BOTH LIGHTS IN THE AUTO GND SPD BRAKE HANDLE INOP. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SYS, I HAD MAINT RELAMP THE HANDLE TO NO AVAIL. I DECIDED TO PUT THE AUTO GND SPOILERS ON MAINT CARRYOVER (MCO) USING MEL #XX-YY-ZZ AND THE ACFT WAS DISPATCHED. I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL THE NEXT DAY THAT THE LIGHTS IN THE AUTO GND SPOILERS HANDLE WERE AN INDICATION OF THE AUTO GND SPOILERS HYD ASSIST BEING INOP. THERE ARE 2 HYD ASSIST SYS FOR THE AUTO GND SPOILERS AND AN INDICATOR LIGHT FOR EACH SYS. FOR DISPATCH, ONE INDICATOR LIGHT CAN BE INOP USING MEL ZZ-WW-XX. AS IT TURNED OUT, MAINT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE HYD ASSIST FOR THE AUTO GND SPOILERS. THE PROB WAS FOUND TO BE A BAD GND FOR THE INDICATOR LIGHTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE LIGHTS ON THE HANDLE SO THE ENTIRE AUTO SPOILER SYS WAS DEFERRED. THE RPTR SAID THE DEFERRAL OF BOTH LIGHTS WAS NOT PERMITTED. THE RPTR STATED WHEN HE CHKED THE MEL IT WAS CLOSE TO DEP TIME AND HE JUST MISREAD THE MANUAL.

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.

An L1011-100 was dispatched in non compliance with both lights in the automatic ground speed brake handle inoperative in conflict with the MEL requirements.