B737-400 was dispatched in non compliance with the right tank fuel quantity inoperative. Deferred right forward low pressure warning light in conflict with the MEL.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	626443
Time
Date	200408
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	626443
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	626446
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : low pressure warning light other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure contributing factor : manuals performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance
Situations
Publication	Minimum Equipment List

Narrative:

We preflted the aircraft in ZZZ1. There was an existing MEL 28-6 for the right fuel tank quantity indicator. The captain noticed a bulb was burned out in the right forward fuel pump light, so a mechanic was called out to replace the bulb. The light was not able to be fixed at the time, so we expected to have MEL 28-3A added on. However, that MEL states that the associated tank quantity indicator must operate normally. For that reason, maintenance control decided to disable the forward fuel pump per MEL 28-1B, since it does not reference the need for an operating fuel tank quantity indicator. At this point, we should have gone back and reviewed all previous/existing MEL's, but we did not. We mistakenly accepted the new MEL 28-1B and flew to ZZZ2. We believe this MEL needs to state the requirement that the respective fuel tank quantity indicator must operate normally. Maintenance control, the ZZZ1 mechanic, captain and myself all overlooked this detail.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-400 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE R TANK FUEL QUANTITY INOP. DEFERRED R FORWARD LOW PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT IN CONFLICT WITH THE MEL.

Narrative: WE PREFLTED THE ACFT IN ZZZ1. THERE WAS AN EXISTING MEL 28-6 FOR THE R FUEL TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR. THE CAPT NOTICED A BULB WAS BURNED OUT IN THE R FORWARD FUEL PUMP LIGHT, SO A MECH WAS CALLED OUT TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE LIGHT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AT THE TIME, SO WE EXPECTED TO HAVE MEL 28-3A ADDED ON. HOWEVER, THAT MEL STATES THAT THE ASSOCIATED TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR MUST OPERATE NORMALLY. FOR THAT REASON, MAINT CTL DECIDED TO DISABLE THE FORWARD FUEL PUMP PER MEL 28-1B, SINCE IT DOES NOT REF THE NEED FOR AN OPERATING FUEL TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR. AT THIS POINT, WE SHOULD HAVE GONE BACK AND REVIEWED ALL PREVIOUS/EXISTING MEL'S, BUT WE DID NOT. WE MISTAKENLY ACCEPTED THE NEW MEL 28-1B AND FLEW TO ZZZ2. WE BELIEVE THIS MEL NEEDS TO STATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RESPECTIVE FUEL TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR MUST OPERATE NORMALLY. MAINT CTL, THE ZZZ1 MECH, CAPT AND MYSELF ALL OVERLOOKED THIS DETAIL.

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.