Narrative:

MEL 27-6 is being misused to keep aircraft operating when in fact there is an actual discrepancy with the spoiler system. MEL 27-6 is to be used when the spoiler deployed light is inoperative. The proviso directs that a visual verification to ensure that the spoilers are stowed before each takeoff. The deployed light is installed to alert the flight crew when the spoilers are not in a faired condition and are presently on a placard for the light being illuminated all the time. The light is operative; it is telling the truth. There is a problem in the system that is not being addressed. This misuse of the MEL is a violation of the far's. If the company wants to operate an aircraft in this condition then specific guidance needs to be established. The MEL is straight forward; inoperative light; verify that the spoiler panels are stowed. If the light is on at all times; there isn't any MEL relief. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the spoiler deployed light can only be deferred per the MEL if the light system is inoperative and the spoilers are checked for being stowed prior to departure. This spoiler deployed light has been deferred on 2 airplanes because the MEL is being misinterpreted as the actual condition is the light is illuminated continuously. The spoiler light illuminating alerts the crew either a ground spoiler is not stowed in-flight or any spoiler extended on the ground. Reporter believes the spoiler system has a fault; most likely a floating ground spoiler.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 TECHNICIAN RPTS IMPROPER DEFERRAL OF THE SPOILER DEPLOYED WARNING LIGHT. THE MEL REF IS TO THE LIGHT INOP NOT ILLUMINATING. IN THIS CASE THE LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

Narrative: MEL 27-6 IS BEING MISUSED TO KEEP ACFT OPERATING WHEN IN FACT THERE IS AN ACTUAL DISCREPANCY WITH THE SPOILER SYS. MEL 27-6 IS TO BE USED WHEN THE SPOILER DEPLOYED LIGHT IS INOP. THE PROVISO DIRECTS THAT A VISUAL VERIFICATION TO ENSURE THAT THE SPOILERS ARE STOWED BEFORE EACH TKOF. THE DEPLOYED LIGHT IS INSTALLED TO ALERT THE FLT CREW WHEN THE SPOILERS ARE NOT IN A FAIRED CONDITION AND ARE PRESENTLY ON A PLACARD FOR THE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME. THE LIGHT IS OPERATIVE; IT IS TELLING THE TRUTH. THERE IS A PROB IN THE SYS THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THIS MISUSE OF THE MEL IS A VIOLATION OF THE FAR'S. IF THE COMPANY WANTS TO OPERATE AN ACFT IN THIS CONDITION THEN SPECIFIC GUIDANCE NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED. THE MEL IS STRAIGHT FORWARD; INOP LIGHT; VERIFY THAT THE SPOILER PANELS ARE STOWED. IF THE LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES; THERE ISN'T ANY MEL RELIEF. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE SPOILER DEPLOYED LIGHT CAN ONLY BE DEFERRED PER THE MEL IF THE LIGHT SYS IS INOP AND THE SPOILERS ARE CHKED FOR BEING STOWED PRIOR TO DEP. THIS SPOILER DEPLOYED LIGHT HAS BEEN DEFERRED ON 2 AIRPLANES BECAUSE THE MEL IS BEING MISINTERPRETED AS THE ACTUAL CONDITION IS THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE SPOILER LIGHT ILLUMINATING ALERTS THE CREW EITHER A GND SPOILER IS NOT STOWED INFLT OR ANY SPOILER EXTENDED ON THE GND. RPTR BELIEVES THE SPOILER SYS HAS A FAULT; MOST LIKELY A FLOATING GND SPOILER.

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.