Narrative:

After reviewing the logbook for aircraft X; I noted the airworthiness signoff date. I briefly reviewed some of the discrepancies/corrective actions in the aircraft logbook. After a cursory review to ensure there were no open write-ups or unsigned corrective actions; I flipped to the back of the aircraft logbook to review the 'flight log deferred index.' I noticed in the flight log deferred index that all previous MEL's had been signed and dated closed. I then looked at my release for my flight in the MEL/cdl line and noted the word 'none.' I then completed my set-up check and did not notice any MEL placards on the overhead panel. I signed the aircraft logbook accepting this aircraft as airworthy. After arriving at ZZZ; the next captain asked me about an MEL for the navigation lights. I looked at him confused. I was unaware that this aircraft had an MEL. After searching through the aircraft logbook; I discovered that the left navigation light deferral was entered as a corrective action earlier that day by an air carrier X mechanic. This mechanic did not properly MEL the navigation light for 2 reasons: 1) the aircraft 'flight log deferred index' was not completed; 2) the navigation light switch was not placarded. I told the next captain that the MEL was not complied with and he contacted air carrier X maintenance control to get the issue resolved. Air carrier X had a mechanic come to the aircraft and fill out the 'flight log deferred index' correctly and placard the navigation light switch. The design of the 'flight log deferred index' is such to allow a quick review of any and all items MEL'ed on a particular aircraft. The pilots do not have the time resource to read every discrepancy/corrective action to ensure a situation like mine doesn't come up. When accepting an aircraft; the PIC looks for an airworthiness signoff (and date). We look for corrective actions/technician's signatures for anything written in as a discrepancy and we review the 'flight log deferred index' to review MEL'ed items. In my case; the 'flight log deferred index' was not filled out properly by air carrier X maintenance personnel; my release did not show any MEL's/cdl's and there was no evidence (orange placards) of an MEL anywhere in the cockpit. As a result; I unknowingly flew an aircraft that did not comply with this MEL for navigation light inoperative.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB145 WAS DISPATCHED WITH AN OPEN DEFERRED MAINT ITEM NOT ENTERED IN THE LOGBOOK OR IN THE MAINT RELEASE. L NAV LIGHT INOP.

Narrative: AFTER REVIEWING THE LOGBOOK FOR ACFT X; I NOTED THE AIRWORTHINESS SIGNOFF DATE. I BRIEFLY REVIEWED SOME OF THE DISCREPANCIES/CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK. AFTER A CURSORY REVIEW TO ENSURE THERE WERE NO OPEN WRITE-UPS OR UNSIGNED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS; I FLIPPED TO THE BACK OF THE ACFT LOGBOOK TO REVIEW THE 'FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX.' I NOTICED IN THE FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX THAT ALL PREVIOUS MEL'S HAD BEEN SIGNED AND DATED CLOSED. I THEN LOOKED AT MY RELEASE FOR MY FLT IN THE MEL/CDL LINE AND NOTED THE WORD 'NONE.' I THEN COMPLETED MY SET-UP CHK AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY MEL PLACARDS ON THE OVERHEAD PANEL. I SIGNED THE ACFT LOGBOOK ACCEPTING THIS ACFT AS AIRWORTHY. AFTER ARRIVING AT ZZZ; THE NEXT CAPT ASKED ME ABOUT AN MEL FOR THE NAV LIGHTS. I LOOKED AT HIM CONFUSED. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS ACFT HAD AN MEL. AFTER SEARCHING THROUGH THE ACFT LOGBOOK; I DISCOVERED THAT THE L NAV LIGHT DEFERRAL WAS ENTERED AS A CORRECTIVE ACTION EARLIER THAT DAY BY AN ACR X MECH. THIS MECH DID NOT PROPERLY MEL THE NAV LIGHT FOR 2 REASONS: 1) THE ACFT 'FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX' WAS NOT COMPLETED; 2) THE NAV LIGHT SWITCH WAS NOT PLACARDED. I TOLD THE NEXT CAPT THAT THE MEL WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH AND HE CONTACTED ACR X MAINT CTL TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED. ACR X HAD A MECH COME TO THE ACFT AND FILL OUT THE 'FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX' CORRECTLY AND PLACARD THE NAV LIGHT SWITCH. THE DESIGN OF THE 'FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX' IS SUCH TO ALLOW A QUICK REVIEW OF ANY AND ALL ITEMS MEL'ED ON A PARTICULAR ACFT. THE PLTS DO NOT HAVE THE TIME RESOURCE TO READ EVERY DISCREPANCY/CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ENSURE A SIT LIKE MINE DOESN'T COME UP. WHEN ACCEPTING AN ACFT; THE PIC LOOKS FOR AN AIRWORTHINESS SIGNOFF (AND DATE). WE LOOK FOR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS/TECHNICIAN'S SIGNATURES FOR ANYTHING WRITTEN IN AS A DISCREPANCY AND WE REVIEW THE 'FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX' TO REVIEW MEL'ED ITEMS. IN MY CASE; THE 'FLT LOG DEFERRED INDEX' WAS NOT FILLED OUT PROPERLY BY ACR X MAINT PERSONNEL; MY RELEASE DID NOT SHOW ANY MEL'S/CDL'S AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE (ORANGE PLACARDS) OF AN MEL ANYWHERE IN THE COCKPIT. AS A RESULT; I UNKNOWINGLY FLEW AN ACFT THAT DID NOT COMPLY WITH THIS MEL FOR NAV LIGHT INOP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.