Narrative:

Had aircraft that came into ZZZ with a 'no starter cutout inflight.' aircraft came into ZZZ with no problems. Thought this was a start valve problem or relay problem since it happened inflight. The plan was to look at the maintenance diagnostic computer and see what was causing it; did not look at our 'for reference only' dispatch deviation guide. We ended up deferring the start valve and had maintenance perform a manual start of the aircraft with no issues after that. After looking at the deviation guide; it shows that the EICAS message is a no-dispatch for this aircraft and had to be worked. I realized this after the aircraft was on the ground in ZZZ1 and had already been working on how to clear the MEL before this even came up. It was an item that if it was not me doing the MEL it would have been the other controller doing the MEL. Once it was identified; and even before this; we set up parts and fault isolation manual references for maintenance in ZZZ1 to clear this issue. Parts were in our ZZZ1 maintenance base and as I am typing this report they are in the process of working it; and will not let them leave if it is not fixed. Did not know that was even; or if it is even; an event but after looking at the dispatch deviation guide; I figured it is an issue. At the time of deferral; I guess I thought it was a start valve problem and we have an MEL for a start valve and that is why we went ahead with the MEL. I was not trying to get the aircraft out or pushing or being pushed to get the aircraft out. If needed; I would have grounded the aircraft in ZZZ at the time. Not sure what to write on this; it was an after-the-fact and I should have looked at the deviation guide for what it is used for and that is; to guide me in making the decision on whether to ground the aircraft or to MEL the item and send the aircraft on its way. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the 'no starter cutout' EICAS message during flight; appeared to be an indication problem generally involving the engine starter valve position sensor or relay. The start valve can be deferred under the MEL; but the EICAS message is a 'no dispatch' condition in their reference dispatch deviation guide (ddg); which he failed to also refer to. The downline maintenance station queried the crj-900's onboard maintenance diagnostic computer (mdc); and replaced a starter relay.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Maintenance Controller realizes later; he had released a CRJ-900 with an EICAS message of a 'no starter cutout' as a MEL start valve deferral. This was a 'no dispatch' condition message requiring a maintenance repair.

Narrative: Had aircraft that came into ZZZ with a 'no starter cutout inflight.' Aircraft came into ZZZ with no problems. Thought this was a start valve problem or relay problem since it happened inflight. The plan was to look at the Maintenance Diagnostic Computer and see what was causing it; did not look at our 'for reference only' Dispatch Deviation Guide. We ended up deferring the start valve and had Maintenance perform a manual start of the aircraft with no issues after that. After looking at the deviation guide; it shows that the EICAS message is a no-dispatch for this aircraft and had to be worked. I realized this after the aircraft was on the ground in ZZZ1 and had already been working on how to clear the MEL before this even came up. It was an item that if it was not me doing the MEL it would have been the other Controller doing the MEL. Once it was identified; and even before this; we set up parts and Fault Isolation Manual references for Maintenance in ZZZ1 to clear this issue. Parts were in our ZZZ1 Maintenance Base and as I am typing this report they are in the process of working it; and will not let them leave if it is not fixed. Did not know that was even; or if it is even; an event but after looking at the Dispatch Deviation Guide; I figured it is an issue. At the time of deferral; I guess I thought it was a start valve problem and we have an MEL for a start valve and that is why we went ahead with the MEL. I was not trying to get the aircraft out or pushing or being pushed to get the aircraft out. If needed; I would have grounded the aircraft in ZZZ at the time. Not sure what to write on this; it was an after-the-fact and I should have looked at the Deviation Guide for what it is used for and that is; to guide me in making the decision on whether to ground the aircraft or to MEL the item and send the aircraft on its way. Callback conversation with Reporter revealed the following information: Reporter stated the 'no starter cutout' EICAS message during flight; appeared to be an indication problem generally involving the engine starter valve position sensor or relay. The start valve can be deferred under the MEL; but the EICAS message is a 'no dispatch' condition in their reference Dispatch Deviation Guide (DDG); which he failed to also refer to. The downline Maintenance station queried the CRJ-900's onboard Maintenance Diagnostic Computer (MDC); and replaced a starter relay.

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.