An MD80 was dispatched and operated with a known start valve open position light malfunction.

Attributes
ACN	545666
Time
Date	200204
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
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	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	545666
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	545657
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : start valve open light other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On engine start at ord, left start valve open light did not illuminate. Rotation and start was normal. Since light tested normal after start and was extinguished I proceeded. The only applicable procedure I could think of was for valve light on after start. Later, when carefully checking MEL, I realized that maintenance action was called for. I wrote item up for maintenance to take care of in ZZZ1. Next time, I will definitely take whatever time is required to do my research while still on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 WAS DISPATCHED AND OPERATED WITH A KNOWN START VALVE OPEN POS LIGHT MALFUNCTION.

Narrative: ON ENG START AT ORD, L START VALVE OPEN LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. ROTATION AND START WAS NORMAL. SINCE LIGHT TESTED NORMAL AFTER START AND WAS EXTINGUISHED I PROCEEDED. THE ONLY APPLICABLE PROC I COULD THINK OF WAS FOR VALVE LIGHT ON AFTER START. LATER, WHEN CAREFULLY CHKING MEL, I REALIZED THAT MAINT ACTION WAS CALLED FOR. I WROTE ITEM UP FOR MAINT TO TAKE CARE OF IN ZZZ1. NEXT TIME, I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE WHATEVER TIME IS REQUIRED TO DO MY RESEARCH WHILE STILL ON THE GND.

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.