B727 crew was dispatched with inoperative MEL items.

Attributes
ACN	446858
Time
Date	199908
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.bcstn
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 7600 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	446858
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 5
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Maintenance Human Performance FAA Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Flight from mke-las had 2 MEL's -- the WX radar was inoperative and the left pack wouldn't properly control cabin temperature. Because of the radar, we had to stay clear of all WX. We were dispatched through some WX and had to go to FL260 to fly over the buildup. We turned on the pack, which held the cabin altitude at less than 4000 ft. However, a lot of warm air was coming into the cabin, which made it uncomfortable. We descended back to FL240 and turned off the pack. We remained at this altitude for the remainder of the flight. While at the gate, maintenance also wanted to check the left pack en route. They had done some more work on it at the gate. The MEL stated we must stay at FL250 or below. Out of the interest of safety and a request by maintenance, we went to FL260 for a few mins. The flight was never in any kind of danger. Just a note: the FAA was on board.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW WAS DISPATCHED WITH INOP MEL ITEMS.

Narrative: FLT FROM MKE-LAS HAD 2 MEL'S -- THE WX RADAR WAS INOP AND THE L PACK WOULDN'T PROPERLY CTL CABIN TEMP. BECAUSE OF THE RADAR, WE HAD TO STAY CLR OF ALL WX. WE WERE DISPATCHED THROUGH SOME WX AND HAD TO GO TO FL260 TO FLY OVER THE BUILDUP. WE TURNED ON THE PACK, WHICH HELD THE CABIN ALT AT LESS THAN 4000 FT. HOWEVER, A LOT OF WARM AIR WAS COMING INTO THE CABIN, WHICH MADE IT UNCOMFORTABLE. WE DSNDED BACK TO FL240 AND TURNED OFF THE PACK. WE REMAINED AT THIS ALT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. WHILE AT THE GATE, MAINT ALSO WANTED TO CHK THE L PACK ENRTE. THEY HAD DONE SOME MORE WORK ON IT AT THE GATE. THE MEL STATED WE MUST STAY AT FL250 OR BELOW. OUT OF THE INTEREST OF SAFETY AND A REQUEST BY MAINT, WE WENT TO FL260 FOR A FEW MINS. THE FLT WAS NEVER IN ANY KIND OF DANGER. JUST A NOTE: THE FAA WAS ON BOARD.

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.