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An EMB145 captain is worried that even though his FMS computer was MEL'ed, it indicated that the aircraft exceeded maximum takeoff weight and probably transmitted this result to the company. However, his calculations showed the aircraft was within limits.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 455370 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199911 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ord.airport |
| State Reference | IL |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 90 |
| ASRS Report | 455370 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Maintenance Human Performance Company Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Our aircraft had 4 MEL's, including 1 for the ACARS system and FMS navigation database. We use the FMS computer to also verify weights on our aircraft (ie, maximum takeoff weight, zero fuel weight, and landing weight). Manual calculations are also done and recorded on a weight and balance form, which is limiting and turned in to company. Our calculations showed us to be within 100 pounds of our maximum takeoff weight based on the aircraft maximum landing weight plus en route fuel burn plus taxi fuel burn. The performance page of one FMS showed us to be +/-175 pounds over maximum landing weight. I believe that computer has a 'snitch' feature on it and automatically notifies moc/soc of any exceedance of limitations. (Even thought it was MEL'ed, it still transmitted data.) compounding MEL's are unsafe.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN EMB145 CAPT IS WORRIED THAT EVEN THOUGH HIS FMS COMPUTER WAS MEL'ED, IT INDICATED THAT THE ACFT EXCEEDED MAX TKOF WT AND PROBABLY XMITTED THIS RESULT TO THE COMPANY. HOWEVER, HIS CALCULATIONS SHOWED THE ACFT WAS WITHIN LIMITS.
Narrative: OUR ACFT HAD 4 MEL'S, INCLUDING 1 FOR THE ACARS SYS AND FMS NAV DATABASE. WE USE THE FMS COMPUTER TO ALSO VERIFY WTS ON OUR ACFT (IE, MAX TKOF WT, ZERO FUEL WT, AND LNDG WT). MANUAL CALCULATIONS ARE ALSO DONE AND RECORDED ON A WT AND BAL FORM, WHICH IS LIMITING AND TURNED IN TO COMPANY. OUR CALCULATIONS SHOWED US TO BE WITHIN 100 LBS OF OUR MAX TKOF WT BASED ON THE ACFT MAX LNDG WT PLUS ENRTE FUEL BURN PLUS TAXI FUEL BURN. THE PERFORMANCE PAGE OF ONE FMS SHOWED US TO BE +/-175 LBS OVER MAX LNDG WT. I BELIEVE THAT COMPUTER HAS A 'SNITCH' FEATURE ON IT AND AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFIES MOC/SOC OF ANY EXCEEDANCE OF LIMITATIONS. (EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS MEL'ED, IT STILL XMITTED DATA.) COMPOUNDING MEL'S ARE UNSAFE.
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.