Narrative:

During preflight 1 of the 2 radar units was discovered to be inoperative. A mechanic was called and the radar unit was placarded as being inoperative, as permitted by the aircraft MEL. I failed to note that this MEL item is required to be listed on the dispatch release, and failed to advise the dispatcher of this prior to departure. Contributing to this oversight was the early hour (XA50), that this flight was running about 20 hours late, and the rush to depart so as to arrive at the destination (narita) at the curfew expiration time. In the future, I will ensure that I personally review every MEL item listed on the maintenance log, and compare it to the current dispatch release.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747 CARGO CAPT DEPARTED ANC WITH 1 RADAR UNIT INOP AND FAILS TO NOTIFY DISPATCHER OF THIS MEL'ED ITEM.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT 1 OF THE 2 RADAR UNITS WAS DISCOVERED TO BE INOP. A MECH WAS CALLED AND THE RADAR UNIT WAS PLACARDED AS BEING INOP, AS PERMITTED BY THE ACFT MEL. I FAILED TO NOTE THAT THIS MEL ITEM IS REQUIRED TO BE LISTED ON THE DISPATCH RELEASE, AND FAILED TO ADVISE THE DISPATCHER OF THIS PRIOR TO DEP. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS OVERSIGHT WAS THE EARLY HR (XA50), THAT THIS FLT WAS RUNNING ABOUT 20 HRS LATE, AND THE RUSH TO DEPART SO AS TO ARRIVE AT THE DEST (NARITA) AT THE CURFEW EXPIRATION TIME. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL ENSURE THAT I PERSONALLY REVIEW EVERY MEL ITEM LISTED ON THE MAINT LOG, AND COMPARE IT TO THE CURRENT DISPATCH RELEASE.

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.