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A B717 was dispatched with a deferred item on aileron trim inoperative, but the required check prior to each flight was not accomplished per the MEL.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 483195 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200008 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : stl.airport |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B717 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked ground : preflight |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 90 |
| ASRS Report | 483195 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | contributing factor : manuals contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : inspection |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Company Maintenance Human Performance Chart Or Publication Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Maintenance Human Performance |
| Situations | |
| Publication | MINIMUM EQUIP LIST |
Narrative:
Previous crew wrote up an 'aileron trim fail' fault message displayed on status page. Mntnc fix was to disconnect aileron trim motor. Aircraft dispatched in this condition was required to have trim tabs visually checked in faired condition. I did not realize that this required a mntnc sign off at each departure (I still have conflicting information if it does or not), but flew approximately 9 or 10 legs without a sign off (as did several other crews). MEL should state specifically that this is required or not. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the station that deferred the aileron trim did not make the visual check at deferral and it was assumed no check was required. The reporter stated the release was delivered prior to the deferral and any special checks would have been noted. The reporter stated calling in flight to the mnync controller questioning the required controller tab check and was advised that its not required. The reporter stated after completion of the trip and checking the MEL it was obvious the control tabs were to be checked prior to each departure.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B717 WAS DISPATCHED WITH A DEFERRED ITEM ON AILERON TRIM INOP, BUT THE REQUIRED CHK PRIOR TO EACH FLT WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED PER THE MEL.
Narrative: PREVIOUS CREW WROTE UP AN 'AILERON TRIM FAIL' FAULT MSG DISPLAYED ON STATUS PAGE. MNTNC FIX WAS TO DISCONNECT AILERON TRIM MOTOR. ACFT DISPATCHED IN THIS CONDITION WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE TRIM TABS VISUALLY CHKED IN FAIRED CONDITION. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THIS REQUIRED A MNTNC SIGN OFF AT EACH DEP (I STILL HAVE CONFLICTING INFO IF IT DOES OR NOT), BUT FLEW APPROX 9 OR 10 LEGS WITHOUT A SIGN OFF (AS DID SEVERAL OTHER CREWS). MEL SHOULD STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS IS REQUIRED OR NOT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE STATION THAT DEFERRED THE AILERON TRIM DID NOT MAKE THE VISUAL CHK AT DEFERRAL AND IT WAS ASSUMED NO CHK WAS REQUIRED. THE RPTR STATED THE RELEASE WAS DELIVERED PRIOR TO THE DEFERRAL AND ANY SPECIAL CHKS WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTED. THE RPTR STATED CALLING IN FLT TO THE MNYNC CTLR QUESTIONING THE REQUIRED CTLR TAB CHK AND WAS ADVISED THAT ITS NOT REQUIRED. THE RPTR STATED AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TRIP AND CHKING THE MEL IT WAS OBVIOUS THE CTL TABS WERE TO BE CHKED PRIOR TO EACH DEP.
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.