Narrative:

B757 tech called for a placard just before departure time for MEL 28-11A, main tank fuel quantity indicator. After reading MEL, I approved the placard and advised technician the aircraft would have to be fixed in ZZZ1 due to the 50 NM from land restr stated in the MEL. MEL states 1 tank indicator may be inoperative for operations not more than 50 NM from land in the 48 contiguous states, canada, mexico, and central america. I stopped reading there and approved the MEL. About 1 hour later, I received a call from technician saying we should have never left ZZZ with this MEL. I missed the statement that says they must be operative for all other operations. I was under the impression that since we were within 50 NM of land from ZZZ-ZZZ1, that we were fine to go. But, after reading the MEL again, I definitely missed the statement that they both must be operative outside the defined areas stated in MEL 28-11A. It was an oversight on my part as well as the technician's and the captain's. I never should have been called for the placard, but I should have read all of the provisions of the MEL. I also believe we are handcuffing ourselves in parts of the caribbean with this MEL. Many times we can stay 50 NM from land in the islands.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A MAIN FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR DEFERRED AS INOP, BUT IN CONFLICT WITH THE MEL.

Narrative: B757 TECH CALLED FOR A PLACARD JUST BEFORE DEP TIME FOR MEL 28-11A, MAIN TANK FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR. AFTER READING MEL, I APPROVED THE PLACARD AND ADVISED TECHNICIAN THE ACFT WOULD HAVE TO BE FIXED IN ZZZ1 DUE TO THE 50 NM FROM LAND RESTR STATED IN THE MEL. MEL STATES 1 TANK INDICATOR MAY BE INOP FOR OPS NOT MORE THAN 50 NM FROM LAND IN THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES, CANADA, MEXICO, AND CENTRAL AMERICA. I STOPPED READING THERE AND APPROVED THE MEL. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM TECHNICIAN SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT ZZZ WITH THIS MEL. I MISSED THE STATEMENT THAT SAYS THEY MUST BE OPERATIVE FOR ALL OTHER OPS. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SINCE WE WERE WITHIN 50 NM OF LAND FROM ZZZ-ZZZ1, THAT WE WERE FINE TO GO. BUT, AFTER READING THE MEL AGAIN, I DEFINITELY MISSED THE STATEMENT THAT THEY BOTH MUST BE OPERATIVE OUTSIDE THE DEFINED AREAS STATED IN MEL 28-11A. IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT ON MY PART AS WELL AS THE TECHNICIAN'S AND THE CAPT'S. I NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR THE PLACARD, BUT I SHOULD HAVE READ ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE MEL. I ALSO BELIEVE WE ARE HANDCUFFING OURSELVES IN PARTS OF THE CARIBBEAN WITH THIS MEL. MANY TIMES WE CAN STAY 50 NM FROM LAND IN THE ISLANDS.

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.