An EMB145 crew deferred and placarded the APU as 'refuses to start;' improperly placarded by the fli...

Attributes
ACN	702134
Time
Date	200607
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	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	702134
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : lead technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft had a maintenance logbook discrepancy of 'APU refuses to start.' the flight crew improperly flight crew placarded the item by putting the 'MEL authority/authorized; maintenance control number' in the action taken block instead of making a second discrepancy. The aircraft then flew to destination where I was sent out to balance the crew placarded item. When I discovered the incorrectly crew placarded item; I approached the onboard flight crew. However; they were not the ones to write up the item and crew placard it. I then brought the logbook to maintenance office and showed to my lead technician. The assistant chief pilot was contacted to correct the discrepancy. Nothing happened and the maintenance logbook was returned to the maintenance office and the discrepancy was not fixed. At this time the maintenance logbook was handed over to the on-duty maintenance supervisor. He then proceeded to remedy the situation the quickest and easiest way possible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB145 CREW DEFERRED AND PLACARDED THE APU AS 'REFUSES TO START;' IMPROPERLY PLACARDED BY THE FLT CREW.

Narrative: ACFT HAD A MAINT LOGBOOK DISCREPANCY OF 'APU REFUSES TO START.' THE FLT CREW IMPROPERLY FLT CREW PLACARDED THE ITEM BY PUTTING THE 'MEL AUTH; MAINT CTL NUMBER' IN THE ACTION TAKEN BLOCK INSTEAD OF MAKING A SECOND DISCREPANCY. THE ACFT THEN FLEW TO DEST WHERE I WAS SENT OUT TO BAL THE CREW PLACARDED ITEM. WHEN I DISCOVERED THE INCORRECTLY CREW PLACARDED ITEM; I APCHED THE ONBOARD FLT CREW. HOWEVER; THEY WERE NOT THE ONES TO WRITE UP THE ITEM AND CREW PLACARD IT. I THEN BROUGHT THE LOGBOOK TO MAINT OFFICE AND SHOWED TO MY LEAD TECHNICIAN. THE ASSISTANT CHIEF PLT WAS CONTACTED TO CORRECT THE DISCREPANCY. NOTHING HAPPENED AND THE MAINT LOGBOOK WAS RETURNED TO THE MAINT OFFICE AND THE DISCREPANCY WAS NOT FIXED. AT THIS TIME THE MAINT LOGBOOK WAS HANDED OVER TO THE ON-DUTY MAINT SUPVR. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION THE QUICKEST AND EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE.

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.

An EMB145 crew deferred and placarded the APU as 'refuses to start;' improperly placarded by the flight crew.