Pilot reports they were dispatched with MEL 24-1 for a left engine driven generator (idg) inoperativ...

Attributes
ACN	812737
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 425
ASRS Report	812737
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : briefing performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Our aircraft was dispatched with MEL (B757) item 24-1 pertaining to an inoperative engine driven generator. The generator was deferred 2 days earlier. Both the flight release and aircraft maintenance logbook entries were in agreement about the status of the deferred item. Extra fuel was added to comply with the MEL restrs. Immediately after engine start; all appeared in compliance. After arrival at our destination; we were made aware of undocumented work performed at our departure station. We were never made aware of this work prior to departing. Apparently; there was an attempt to reconnect the idg (engine driven generator) in ZZZ. This was undocumented and all indications were that it remained in its previous (generator deferred) condition. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the #1 engine integrated drive generator (idg) overhead push button switch was deselected and no indication was noted that the idg was functional on the B757 when they departed. They ran the APU for the entire trip. Reporter stated that after their arrival; the next outbound crew called in and reported they noticed the idg disconnect light had gone out and wanted to know what was the actual status of the #1 engine electrical drive system; especially since the left engine idg generator was deferred. Reporter stated the way the MEL is written; could be improved to help crews understand what to look for; or verify; regarding switches or indications for engine electrical deferrals.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PILOT REPORTS THEY WERE DISPATCHED WITH MEL 24-1 FOR A LEFT ENGINE DRIVEN GENERATOR (IDG) INOPERATIVE ON A B757. AFTER ARRIVAL; THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF UNDOCUMENTED WORK PERFORMED TO RECONNECT THE IDG AT THEIR DEPARTURE STATION.

Narrative: OUR ACFT WAS DISPATCHED WITH MEL (B757) ITEM 24-1 PERTAINING TO AN INOP ENG DRIVEN GENERATOR. THE GENERATOR WAS DEFERRED 2 DAYS EARLIER. BOTH THE FLT RELEASE AND ACFT MAINT LOGBOOK ENTRIES WERE IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE DEFERRED ITEM. EXTRA FUEL WAS ADDED TO COMPLY WITH THE MEL RESTRS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENG START; ALL APPEARED IN COMPLIANCE. AFTER ARR AT OUR DEST; WE WERE MADE AWARE OF UNDOCUMENTED WORK PERFORMED AT OUR DEP STATION. WE WERE NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS WORK PRIOR TO DEPARTING. APPARENTLY; THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO RECONNECT THE IDG (ENG DRIVEN GENERATOR) IN ZZZ. THIS WAS UNDOCUMENTED AND ALL INDICATIONS WERE THAT IT REMAINED IN ITS PREVIOUS (GENERATOR DEFERRED) CONDITION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THE #1 ENGINE INTEGRATED DRIVE GENERATOR (IDG) OVERHEAD PUSH BUTTON SWITCH WAS DESELECTED AND NO INDICATION WAS NOTED THAT THE IDG WAS FUNCTIONAL ON THE B757 WHEN THEY DEPARTED. THEY RAN THE APU FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. REPORTER STATED THAT AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL; THE NEXT OUTBOUND CREW CALLED IN AND REPORTED THEY NOTICED THE IDG DISCONNECT LIGHT HAD GONE OUT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL STATUS OF THE #1 ENGINE ELECTRICAL DRIVE SYSTEM; ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LEFT ENGINE IDG GENERATOR WAS DEFERRED. REPORTER STATED THE WAY THE MEL IS WRITTEN; COULD BE IMPROVED TO HELP CREWS UNDERSTAND WHAT TO LOOK FOR; OR VERIFY; REGARDING SWITCHES OR INDICATIONS FOR ENGINE ELECTRICAL DEFERRALS.

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.

Pilot reports they were dispatched with MEL 24-1 for a left engine driven generator (idg) inoperative on a B757. After arrival; they were made aware of undocumented work performed to reconnect the idg at their departure station.