A B727-200 was dispatched in non compliance with a required #2 reverser inspection not accomplished.

Attributes
ACN	478209
Time
Date	200007
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	478209
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	478210
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

In flight operations ZZZ I saw on the flight plan that we had an inoperative reverser light on #2 engine. MEL item 78-02. It required maintenance to visually check the reverser locking pin to assure that the reverser is locked in forward thrust position and to make a log entry signifying accomplishment prior to takeoff. I called dispatch to check on availability of a mechanic in cur in case we had to use #2 reverser on landing cur. At the gate on the aircraft in ZZZ we eventually had 3 mechanics working on various items. When I checked the logbook prior to departure I thought I had seen this required entry in our log. During climb out ZZZ I asked to see the log and double-check that the required entry was there. It turned out it wasn't. What I thought I saw earlier as an entry made in mbj not ZZZ. I called dispatch and made arrangements for contract maintenance to perform the inspection in cur whether we used #2 reverser or not. To avoid this problem in the future I will be more thorough in checking the log for required write-offs for MEL items. I will also talk to the mechanics and ask them if they have or will perform the inspection if they are on the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A REQUIRED #2 REVERSER INSPECTION NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: IN FLT OPS ZZZ I SAW ON THE FLT PLAN THAT WE HAD AN INOP REVERSER LIGHT ON #2 ENG. MEL ITEM 78-02. IT REQUIRED MAINT TO VISUALLY CHK THE REVERSER LOCKING PIN TO ASSURE THAT THE REVERSER IS LOCKED IN FORWARD THRUST POS AND TO MAKE A LOG ENTRY SIGNIFYING ACCOMPLISHMENT PRIOR TO TKOF. I CALLED DISPATCH TO CHK ON AVAILABILITY OF A MECH IN CUR IN CASE WE HAD TO USE #2 REVERSER ON LNDG CUR. AT THE GATE ON THE ACFT IN ZZZ WE EVENTUALLY HAD 3 MECHS WORKING ON VARIOUS ITEMS. WHEN I CHKED THE LOGBOOK PRIOR TO DEP I THOUGHT I HAD SEEN THIS REQUIRED ENTRY IN OUR LOG. DURING CLBOUT ZZZ I ASKED TO SEE THE LOG AND DOUBLE-CHK THAT THE REQUIRED ENTRY WAS THERE. IT TURNED OUT IT WASN'T. WHAT I THOUGHT I SAW EARLIER AS AN ENTRY MADE IN MBJ NOT ZZZ. I CALLED DISPATCH AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONTRACT MAINT TO PERFORM THE INSPECTION IN CUR WHETHER WE USED #2 REVERSER OR NOT. TO AVOID THIS PROB IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE MORE THOROUGH IN CHKING THE LOG FOR REQUIRED WRITE-OFFS FOR MEL ITEMS. I WILL ALSO TALK TO THE MECHS AND ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE OR WILL PERFORM THE INSPECTION IF THEY ARE ON THE ACFT.

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.