Narrative:

Arrived for flight X. Mechanic was deferring inbound write-up for a captain terrain pushbutton switch inoperative. After my checks I discovered that it was not only the switch; but the entire terrain function of the GPWS system. I feel the mechanics at air carrier X are so pushed and thin that there was no time for troubleshooting on the problem. This would have resulted in an illegal dispatch for the GPWS system being inoperative for the flight. The MEL references for the 2 issues are different. MEL is the important one that was overlooked by maintenance. This ended up in inoperative'ing the entire GPWS system. I feel the air carrier X mechanics are good at their jobs; but air carrier X has not given them the tools and time to perform their duties. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated he is concerned about the inadequate maintenance due to schedule pressures on maintenance personnel of the carrier he flies for. The lack of proper troubleshooting; when attempting to determine what component or aircraft system is actually malfunctioning; or has failed; is a problem. This in turn; contributes to functioning items or systems being incorrectly deferred. Reporter stated; in his situation; however; had he not done his own checks; including looking up and noticing the GPWS fault light was on; he would have departed with an MEL release for the captain's GPWS switch inoperative; when in fact; the entire GPWS system was not functioning.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS A320 PILOT REPORTS OF INCORRECT MEL DEFERRAL; INADEQUATE TROUBLESHOOTING AND SCHEDULE PRESSURES AFFECTING MECHANICS' DUTIES.

Narrative: ARRIVED FOR FLT X. MECH WAS DEFERRING INBOUND WRITE-UP FOR A CAPT TERRAIN PUSHBUTTON SWITCH INOP. AFTER MY CHKS I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY THE SWITCH; BUT THE ENTIRE TERRAIN FUNCTION OF THE GPWS SYS. I FEEL THE MECHS AT ACR X ARE SO PUSHED AND THIN THAT THERE WAS NO TIME FOR TROUBLESHOOTING ON THE PROB. THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ILLEGAL DISPATCH FOR THE GPWS SYS BEING INOP FOR THE FLT. THE MEL REFS FOR THE 2 ISSUES ARE DIFFERENT. MEL IS THE IMPORTANT ONE THAT WAS OVERLOOKED BY MAINT. THIS ENDED UP IN INOP'ING THE ENTIRE GPWS SYS. I FEEL THE ACR X MECHS ARE GOOD AT THEIR JOBS; BUT ACR X HAS NOT GIVEN THEM THE TOOLS AND TIME TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE INADEQUATE MAINT DUE TO SCHEDULE PRESSURES ON MAINT PERSONNEL OF THE CARRIER HE FLIES FOR. THE LACK OF PROPER TROUBLESHOOTING; WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHAT COMPONENT OR ACFT SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY MALFUNCTIONING; OR HAS FAILED; IS A PROBLEM. THIS IN TURN; CONTRIBUTES TO FUNCTIONING ITEMS OR SYSTEMS BEING INCORRECTLY DEFERRED. REPORTER STATED; IN HIS SITUATION; HOWEVER; HAD HE NOT DONE HIS OWN CHECKS; INCLUDING LOOKING UP AND NOTICING THE GPWS FAULT LIGHT WAS ON; HE WOULD HAVE DEPARTED WITH AN MEL RELEASE FOR THE CAPT'S GPWS SWITCH INOP; WHEN IN FACT; THE ENTIRE GPWS SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING.

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.