A B727-100 was dispatched in non compliance with a thrust reverser inoperative but not deferred per the minimum equipment list requirements.

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Attributes
ACN	460852
Time
Date	200001
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 14400 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	460852
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : #2 rev position lights other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other Other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance
Situations
Publication	Minimum Equipment List

Narrative:

During taxi out for takeoff we found that the #2 thrust reverser was inoperative. We called company maintenance and they advised us that we could treat as an in flight failure. The general company policy as taught during ground school seems to be if an item fails in the blocks then use the MEL 'minimum equipment list' for the aircraft. If it fails after leaving the blocks then consult the checklist. I feel the weakness with this system is many failures are left up to individual flight crews as to if it is safe and legal to proceed with the flight. Basically, if you're on the ground and it breaks, then stay on the ground and fix it or properly defer it using the MEL. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the carrier maintenance policy of allowing deferral of systems when the aircraft is off the gate and not actually flying needs review. The reporter said the #2 reverser would not deploy when checked during taxi for takeoff and maintenance control was advised. The reporter said the maintenance controller advised writing the discrepancy in the logbook going into the next station. The reporter had second thoughts about what they were doing. The reporter stated the minimum equipment list is carried in the cockpit and referenced, but the special procedures were not noted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-100 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A THRUST REVERSER INOPERATIVE BUT NOT DEFERRED PER THE MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: DURING TAXI OUT FOR TKOF WE FOUND THAT THE #2 THRUST REVERSER WAS INOPERATIVE. WE CALLED COMPANY MAINT AND THEY ADVISED US THAT WE COULD TREAT AS AN IN FLIGHT FAILURE. THE GENERAL COMPANY POLICY AS TAUGHT DURING GND SCHOOL SEEMS TO BE IF AN ITEM FAILS IN THE BLOCKS THEN USE THE MEL 'MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST' FOR THE AIRCRAFT. IF IT FAILS AFTER LEAVING THE BLOCKS THEN CONSULT THE CHECKLIST. I FEEL THE WEAKNESS WITH THIS SYSTEM IS MANY FAILURES ARE LEFT UP TO INDIVIDUAL FLIGHT CREWS AS TO IF IT IS SAFE AND LEGAL TO PROCEED WITH THE FLIGHT. BASICALLY, IF YOU'RE ON THE GND AND IT BREAKS, THEN STAY ON THE GND AND FIX IT OR PROPERLY DEFER IT USING THE MEL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE CARRIER MAINT POLICY OF ALLOWING DEFERRAL OF SYSTEMS WHEN THE ACFT IS OFF THE GATE AND NOT ACTUALLY FLYING NEEDS REVIEW. THE RPTR SAID THE #2 REVERSER WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHEN CHECKED DURING TAXI FOR TAKEOFF AND MAINT CONTROL WAS ADVISED. THE RPTR SAID THE MAINT CONTROLLER ADVISED WRITING THE DISCREPANCY IN THE LOGBOOK GOING INTO THE NEXT STATION. THE RPTR HAD SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING. THE RPTR STATED THE MINIMUM EQUIP LIST IS CARRIED IN THE COCKPIT AND REFERENCED, BUT THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES WERE NOT NOTED.

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.