A B727-200 was dispatched in non compliance with an incorrect deferral of a first officer's compass ...

Attributes
ACN	487011
Time
Date	200008
Day	Fri
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
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
ASRS Report	487011
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : #1 compass system other other : 969
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : fault isolation performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

On the morning of aug/xa/00, I issued an MEL placard for aircraft xyz for the first officer's rmdi needle bearing indication (MEL 34-29). I believe I did not properly review the history of this aircraft prior to approving this MEL. I was told that the first officer's bearing needle was 90 degrees off of the captain's rmdi, which was considered to be indicating normally. I have since found out that it was the compass card itself that was 90 degrees off. The MEL and parts that I issued reflect my understanding of the problem at the time I issued the MEL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AN INCORRECT DEFERRAL OF A FO'S COMPASS CARD.

Narrative: ON THE MORNING OF AUG/XA/00, I ISSUED AN MEL PLACARD FOR ACFT XYZ FOR THE FO'S RMDI NEEDLE BEARING INDICATION (MEL 34-29). I BELIEVE I DID NOT PROPERLY REVIEW THE HISTORY OF THIS ACFT PRIOR TO APPROVING THIS MEL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FO'S BEARING NEEDLE WAS 90 DEGS OFF OF THE CAPT'S RMDI, WHICH WAS CONSIDERED TO BE INDICATING NORMALLY. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE COMPASS CARD ITSELF THAT WAS 90 DEGS OFF. THE MEL AND PARTS THAT I ISSUED REFLECT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROB AT THE TIME I ISSUED THE MEL.

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.

A B727-200 was dispatched in non compliance with an incorrect deferral of a first officer's compass card.