A DC9-30 was dispatched in non compliance with an open unanswered log report.

Attributes
ACN	430905
Time
Date	199903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
ASRS Report	430905
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : fault isolation performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Mar/xz/99, XA30Z, aircraft xyz came in with the pilot write-up 'autoplt oscillates slowly +500 FPM and -500 FPM in cruise. +/-100 ft MSL works well in all other modes.' I worked on this problem for 1 1/2 - 2 hours and was unable to verify the discrepancy. I was then diverted to another discrepancy on another aircraft. I stopped working on xyz autoplt, but still intended in returning to continue troubleshooting. I was unable to return to xyz for various reasons. I then went to the maintenance shop where the logbook is kept and proceeded to write in the logbook, 'item remains deferred due to lack of time,' not remembering that the logbook entry was a 'first time' pilot entry and had not been deferred. I then signed the logbook. Once again, I was not aware of my mistake. It was not my intention to neglect the autoplt write-up. But the higher priority of the other discrepancy also demanded my attention. This situation may have been avoided had I focused on the first write-up and signed it off before proceeding to the next write-up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9-30 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AN OPEN UNANSWERED LOG RPT.

Narrative: MAR/XZ/99, XA30Z, ACFT XYZ CAME IN WITH THE PLT WRITE-UP 'AUTOPLT OSCILLATES SLOWLY +500 FPM AND -500 FPM IN CRUISE. +/-100 FT MSL WORKS WELL IN ALL OTHER MODES.' I WORKED ON THIS PROB FOR 1 1/2 - 2 HRS AND WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THE DISCREPANCY. I WAS THEN DIVERTED TO ANOTHER DISCREPANCY ON ANOTHER ACFT. I STOPPED WORKING ON XYZ AUTOPLT, BUT STILL INTENDED IN RETURNING TO CONTINUE TROUBLESHOOTING. I WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO XYZ FOR VARIOUS REASONS. I THEN WENT TO THE MAINT SHOP WHERE THE LOGBOOK IS KEPT AND PROCEEDED TO WRITE IN THE LOGBOOK, 'ITEM REMAINS DEFERRED DUE TO LACK OF TIME,' NOT REMEMBERING THAT THE LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS A 'FIRST TIME' PLT ENTRY AND HAD NOT BEEN DEFERRED. I THEN SIGNED THE LOGBOOK. ONCE AGAIN, I WAS NOT AWARE OF MY MISTAKE. IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO NEGLECT THE AUTOPLT WRITE-UP. BUT THE HIGHER PRIORITY OF THE OTHER DISCREPANCY ALSO DEMANDED MY ATTN. THIS SIT MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD I FOCUSED ON THE FIRST WRITE-UP AND SIGNED IT OFF BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE NEXT WRITE-UP.

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.