Narrative:

Reaching gate at XA40L for an XB00L departure, I was told we would have to push back 1/2 hour late (XB30) but might be further delayed departing. I began warning the first officer, flight attendants, and passenger at the gate that long delays were possible. After observing the first officer doing preflight inspections, while I prepared the cockpit for flight, I examined the pre departure clearance and noted an expected departure clearance time of XC35 (as I remember), XA45L. Busy with flight attendants, customer service manager, calling for lavatory service, departure delay kit (granola bars), fuel load, and latest WX and aircraft delays, I did not reflect further. At the end of the day at the hotel after ground delays, WX rertes, holding, divert and finally reaching destination, the first officer and I reviewed our papers to discuss the required rest after our WX divert took us over 8 hours flight time. Then, for the first time, I realized that I may have unknowingly accepted an assignment to fly more than 8 hours by pushing back at ord. It was an oversight on my part in the 'heat of battle' which would have led to landing at original destination 5-10 mins over 8 hours actual, if we had gone to destination instead of diverting.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CREW DISCOVERS AFTER THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE FLOWN IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH CREW FLT TIME REGS.

Narrative: REACHING GATE AT XA40L FOR AN XB00L DEP, I WAS TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PUSH BACK 1/2 HR LATE (XB30) BUT MIGHT BE FURTHER DELAYED DEPARTING. I BEGAN WARNING THE FO, FLT ATTENDANTS, AND PAX AT THE GATE THAT LONG DELAYS WERE POSSIBLE. AFTER OBSERVING THE FO DOING PREFLT INSPECTIONS, WHILE I PREPARED THE COCKPIT FOR FLT, I EXAMINED THE PDC AND NOTED AN EXPECTED DEP CLRNC TIME OF XC35 (AS I REMEMBER), XA45L. BUSY WITH FLT ATTENDANTS, CUSTOMER SVC MGR, CALLING FOR LAVATORY SVC, DEP DELAY KIT (GRANOLA BARS), FUEL LOAD, AND LATEST WX AND ACFT DELAYS, I DID NOT REFLECT FURTHER. AT THE END OF THE DAY AT THE HOTEL AFTER GND DELAYS, WX RERTES, HOLDING, DIVERT AND FINALLY REACHING DEST, THE FO AND I REVIEWED OUR PAPERS TO DISCUSS THE REQUIRED REST AFTER OUR WX DIVERT TOOK US OVER 8 HRS FLT TIME. THEN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I REALIZED THAT I MAY HAVE UNKNOWINGLY ACCEPTED AN ASSIGNMENT TO FLY MORE THAN 8 HRS BY PUSHING BACK AT ORD. IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT ON MY PART IN THE 'HEAT OF BATTLE' WHICH WOULD HAVE LED TO LNDG AT ORIGINAL DEST 5-10 MINS OVER 8 HRS ACTUAL, IF WE HAD GONE TO DEST INSTEAD OF DIVERTING.

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.