Narrative:

Aircraft flight scheduled for departure at XA30. The flight crew reported 'CAT 3 check over 30 days,' prior to departure. I removed the airplane from CAT 3 using the proper company mop (maintenance operation procedures) reference, but in the process I called dispatch to get his approval and he asked me for the placard number. I told him there was no placard number because this was a carry forward item. The dispatcher gave me his approval and I proceeded to maintenance release the airplane. Since it was my quitting time, another mechanic took over for the airplane pushback and I went home. The flight crew contacted the station maintenance controller in regard to the placard. The item was reviewed and corrected by the swing shift lead man. I believe the pressure of getting the flight departure on time was the cause of my mistake. I did not have the time to go to the office to read the mop (maintenance operation procedures). Supplemental information from acn 582089: maintenance mechanic was negligent through this entire ordeal. The afternoon mechanic did say when he came in, the dayshift mechanic was hurriedly trying to get the flight out on time. The afternoon mechanic indicated that he offered to help the dayshift mechanic out but he said he was finishing up the flight and would not require any help. It is my feeling that dayshift mechanic was pressured to get the paperwork out on time. I, as an experienced dispatcher, should have questioned the mechanic further. I do have to say, in my own defense, I do not pretend to have every fleet's maintenance manual deferrals committed to memory. I did put some faith in the mechanic. This rushed maintenance manual release led to an illegal flight dispatch release.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACFT REMOVED FROM AUTOLAND BUT MEL REQUIRED PLACARDING NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: ACFT FLT SCHEDULED FOR DEP AT XA30. THE FLT CREW RPTED 'CAT 3 CHK OVER 30 DAYS,' PRIOR TO DEP. I REMOVED THE AIRPLANE FROM CAT 3 USING THE PROPER COMPANY MOP (MAINT OP PROCS) REF, BUT IN THE PROCESS I CALLED DISPATCH TO GET HIS APPROVAL AND HE ASKED ME FOR THE PLACARD NUMBER. I TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO PLACARD NUMBER BECAUSE THIS WAS A CARRY FORWARD ITEM. THE DISPATCHER GAVE ME HIS APPROVAL AND I PROCEEDED TO MAINT RELEASE THE AIRPLANE. SINCE IT WAS MY QUITTING TIME, ANOTHER MECH TOOK OVER FOR THE AIRPLANE PUSHBACK AND I WENT HOME. THE FLT CREW CONTACTED THE STATION MAINT CTLR IN REGARD TO THE PLACARD. THE ITEM WAS REVIEWED AND CORRECTED BY THE SWING SHIFT LEAD MAN. I BELIEVE THE PRESSURE OF GETTING THE FLT DEP ON TIME WAS THE CAUSE OF MY MISTAKE. I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO GO TO THE OFFICE TO READ THE MOP (MAINT OP PROCS). SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 582089: MAINT MECH WAS NEGLIGENT THROUGH THIS ENTIRE ORDEAL. THE AFTERNOON MECH DID SAY WHEN HE CAME IN, THE DAYSHIFT MECH WAS HURRIEDLY TRYING TO GET THE FLT OUT ON TIME. THE AFTERNOON MECH INDICATED THAT HE OFFERED TO HELP THE DAYSHIFT MECH OUT BUT HE SAID HE WAS FINISHING UP THE FLT AND WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY HELP. IT IS MY FEELING THAT DAYSHIFT MECH WAS PRESSURED TO GET THE PAPERWORK OUT ON TIME. I, AS AN EXPERIENCED DISPATCHER, SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE MECH FURTHER. I DO HAVE TO SAY, IN MY OWN DEFENSE, I DO NOT PRETEND TO HAVE EVERY FLEET'S MAINT MANUAL DEFERRALS COMMITTED TO MEMORY. I DID PUT SOME FAITH IN THE MECH. THIS RUSHED MAINT MANUAL RELEASE LED TO AN ILLEGAL FLT DISPATCH RELEASE.

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.