A B767 is dispatched in non compliance with an improper MEL issued for a problem with the EICAS.

Attributes
ACN	507330
Time
Date	200104
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EC 135
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	507330
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Flight was flown with a maintenance message for the EICAS erase function not working. A placard was in the aircraft logbook (without a reference number). On a subsequent flight, the crew believed the EICAS erase function should be repaired and had our maintenance repair the erase function and remove the placard. We were notified by our quality assurance and compliance manager that this maintenance message may have been illegal/improper. Our maintenance/technical departments are currently researching this maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767 IS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH AN IMPROPER MEL ISSUED FOR A PROB WITH THE EICAS.

Narrative: FLT WAS FLOWN WITH A MAINT MESSAGE FOR THE EICAS ERASE FUNCTION NOT WORKING. A PLACARD WAS IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK (WITHOUT A REF NUMBER). ON A SUBSEQUENT FLT, THE CREW BELIEVED THE EICAS ERASE FUNCTION SHOULD BE REPAIRED AND HAD OUR MAINT REPAIR THE ERASE FUNCTION AND REMOVE THE PLACARD. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE AND COMPLIANCE MGR THAT THIS MAINT MESSAGE MAY HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL/IMPROPER. OUR MAINT/TECHNICAL DEPTS ARE CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THIS MAINT.

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.