Narrative:

We departed on a passenger flight with an MEL which required an inspection be performed prior to the day's first flight. The aircraft came to the gate late, 45-50 mins prior to departure. The preflight was rushed amidst cleaning, entering, boarding and additional maintenance action. My inspection of the logbook was somewhat rushed and distraction. I noted the MEL for a drain mast low heat warning light matched the one on the dispatch release. It required a check of function prior to each day's first flight, according to the MEL's ddg [MEL special procedure]. I also noted the check was signed off about 3 pages prior to the current log page. The so and a mechanic were also discussing this item and I was trying to pay attention to them as well. I neglected to notice this signoff was for the flight into this station (prior to approximately 36 hours in the hangar) and 2 days prior and wasn't current. This reinforced my confidence the matter was under control. A maintenance control computer alerted our point of first landing about the unclred check. They performed the check at that time and found it to be operational.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC10-40 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A DEFERRED ITEM SPECIAL PROC INSPECTION NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED ON A PAX FLT WITH AN MEL WHICH REQUIRED AN INSPECTION BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE DAY'S FIRST FLT. THE ACFT CAME TO THE GATE LATE, 45-50 MINS PRIOR TO DEP. THE PREFLT WAS RUSHED AMIDST CLEANING, ENTERING, BOARDING AND ADDITIONAL MAINT ACTION. MY INSPECTION OF THE LOGBOOK WAS SOMEWHAT RUSHED AND DISTR. I NOTED THE MEL FOR A DRAIN MAST LOW HEAT WARNING LIGHT MATCHED THE ONE ON THE DISPATCH RELEASE. IT REQUIRED A CHK OF FUNCTION PRIOR TO EACH DAY'S FIRST FLT, ACCORDING TO THE MEL'S DDG [MEL SPECIAL PROC]. I ALSO NOTED THE CHK WAS SIGNED OFF ABOUT 3 PAGES PRIOR TO THE CURRENT LOG PAGE. THE SO AND A MECH WERE ALSO DISCUSSING THIS ITEM AND I WAS TRYING TO PAY ATTN TO THEM AS WELL. I NEGLECTED TO NOTICE THIS SIGNOFF WAS FOR THE FLT INTO THIS STATION (PRIOR TO APPROX 36 HRS IN THE HANGAR) AND 2 DAYS PRIOR AND WASN'T CURRENT. THIS REINFORCED MY CONFIDENCE THE MATTER WAS UNDER CTL. A MAINT CTL COMPUTER ALERTED OUR POINT OF FIRST LNDG ABOUT THE UNCLRED CHK. THEY PERFORMED THE CHK AT THAT TIME AND FOUND IT TO BE OPERATIONAL.

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.