While deferring the #1 SELCAL on an airbus A320; mechanic notes the requirement to pull circuit brea...

Attributes
ACN	807902
Time
Date	200809
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	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	807902
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : manuals
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication

Narrative:

I applied an MEL 27-94-01 for a SELCAL #1 failure. There was no maintenance action required for this MEL; however; there must be circuit breakers pulled in the operations section step 3. This must be accomplished prior to every departure. While reading the MEL book 27-94-01 condition; I contacted maintenance control and stated the problem. I made a notation that I pulled and collared 2 circuit breakers per the operations procedures not under the maintenance procedures and sent a maintenance message stating this and requested in the maintenance message that the log page and MEL be reviewed. MEL 27-94-01 is poorly written and confusing. Rewrite the MEL to include all maintenance action required. There is a note that in event of a bad SELCAL #1; SELCAL #1 and SELCAL #3 can be swapped. Maybe this should be a requirement.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE DEFERRING THE #1 SELCAL ON AN AIRBUS A320; MECHANIC NOTES THE REQUIREMENT TO PULL CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND VERIFY PRIOR TO EVERY DEPARTURE; WAS FOUND IN THE OPERATIONS SECTION OF MEL 27-94-01; INSTEAD OF THE MAINT SECTION.

Narrative: I APPLIED AN MEL 27-94-01 FOR A SELCAL #1 FAILURE. THERE WAS NO MAINT ACTION REQUIRED FOR THIS MEL; HOWEVER; THERE MUST BE CIRCUIT BREAKERS PULLED IN THE OPS SECTION STEP 3. THIS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO EVERY DEP. WHILE READING THE MEL BOOK 27-94-01 CONDITION; I CONTACTED MAINT CTL AND STATED THE PROB. I MADE A NOTATION THAT I PULLED AND COLLARED 2 CIRCUIT BREAKERS PER THE OPS PROCS NOT UNDER THE MAINT PROCS AND SENT A MAINT MESSAGE STATING THIS AND REQUESTED IN THE MAINT MESSAGE THAT THE LOG PAGE AND MEL BE REVIEWED. MEL 27-94-01 IS POORLY WRITTEN AND CONFUSING. REWRITE THE MEL TO INCLUDE ALL MAINT ACTION REQUIRED. THERE IS A NOTE THAT IN EVENT OF A BAD SELCAL #1; SELCAL #1 AND SELCAL #3 CAN BE SWAPPED. MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

While deferring the #1 SELCAL on an airbus A320; mechanic notes the requirement to pull circuit breakers and verify prior to every departure; was found in the operations section of MEL 27-94-01; instead of the maintenance section.