C60 crew operated a trip with an expired MEL item.

Attributes
ACN	539127
Time
Date	200202
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Challenger CL600
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 182 flight time total : 12600 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	539127
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company Maintenance Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Prior to flight, I noticed an MEL item (observer's seat audio panel) and I referred to the aircraft maintenance log and our MEL to review the discrepancy and to see what restrs we would have to our flight. I noted that the MEL was a CAT a item and restr to 2 flight days, but I inadvertently overlooked the date of discrepancy (feb/thu/02) or I would have realized that the MEL expired at midnight feb/sat/02. (We were the third flight on feb/sun/02.) when I arrived at our destination (ZZZZ) I had telephone contact with a maintenance controller who had called to inform us of the expired MEL and grounded our airplane which we eventually ferried back to phoenix for repairs. I was lured into complacency by 2 things: 1) the airplane had been flown before me by another crew. 2) we have a fancy maintenance computer linked to our flight release system that tracks the status of MEL's. When I looked at my release, the expiration date was not in the system as it should have been. The dispatcher also missed noticing the absent expiration date. In addition, I will recommend that a box be added to our maintenance log in the airplane with the expiration date and time clearly visible of all MEL items.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C60 CREW OPERATED A TRIP WITH AN EXPIRED MEL ITEM.

Narrative: PRIOR TO FLT, I NOTICED AN MEL ITEM (OBSERVER'S SEAT AUDIO PANEL) AND I REFERRED TO THE ACFT MAINT LOG AND OUR MEL TO REVIEW THE DISCREPANCY AND TO SEE WHAT RESTRS WE WOULD HAVE TO OUR FLT. I NOTED THAT THE MEL WAS A CAT A ITEM AND RESTR TO 2 FLT DAYS, BUT I INADVERTENTLY OVERLOOKED THE DATE OF DISCREPANCY (FEB/THU/02) OR I WOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THE MEL EXPIRED AT MIDNIGHT FEB/SAT/02. (WE WERE THE THIRD FLT ON FEB/SUN/02.) WHEN I ARRIVED AT OUR DEST (ZZZZ) I HAD TELEPHONE CONTACT WITH A MAINT CTLR WHO HAD CALLED TO INFORM US OF THE EXPIRED MEL AND GNDED OUR AIRPLANE WHICH WE EVENTUALLY FERRIED BACK TO PHOENIX FOR REPAIRS. I WAS LURED INTO COMPLACENCY BY 2 THINGS: 1) THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN BEFORE ME BY ANOTHER CREW. 2) WE HAVE A FANCY MAINT COMPUTER LINKED TO OUR FLT RELEASE SYS THAT TRACKS THE STATUS OF MEL'S. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY RELEASE, THE EXPIRATION DATE WAS NOT IN THE SYS AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE DISPATCHER ALSO MISSED NOTICING THE ABSENT EXPIRATION DATE. IN ADDITION, I WILL RECOMMEND THAT A BOX BE ADDED TO OUR MAINT LOG IN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE EXPIRATION DATE AND TIME CLRLY VISIBLE OF ALL MEL ITEMS.

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.