A line mechanic describes an ongoing problem with the interpretation of MEL 25-00-11A between mechan...

Narrative:

I was called to aircraft for maintenance at gate about a logbook item for the storage compartment door missing in aft galley. I was unable to locate missing door; so I taped-off the compartment and deferred per MEL 25-00-11A. After aircraft departure our maintenance control called and said that the MEL did not cover the door being missing or open. My interpretation of the MEL procedure were to tape the compartment closed. It does not mention securing compartment 'door'; or that a door must be present. Maintenance control said we need an engineering authorization for the md-88 aircraft to leave with compartment door missing. This seems to be an ongoing problem; because over the years this is exactly how I've seen aircraft dispatched over and over again. All mechanics and leads shown this situation and MEL came to the same conclusion as I. I still believe I was 'ok'; as far as how the MEL reads. But a lot of confusion could be solved by simply changing the MEL to read: secure compartment 'door' closed; or compartment 'door' must be secured 'closed'. I have gone around to fellow mechanics to explain the situation to try to avoid any further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Line Mechanic describes an ongoing problem with the interpretation of MEL 25-00-11A between Mechanics and Maintenance Control; as to whether or not the MD-88 Aft Galley Storage Compartment Door must be present for a legal deferral.

Narrative: I was called to aircraft for maintenance at gate about a Logbook item for the Storage compartment door missing in Aft galley. I was unable to locate missing door; so I taped-off the compartment and deferred per MEL 25-00-11A. After aircraft departure our Maintenance Control called and said that the MEL did not cover the door being missing or open. My interpretation of the MEL procedure were to tape the compartment closed. It does not mention securing compartment 'door'; or that a door must be present. Maintenance Control said we need an Engineering Authorization for the MD-88 aircraft to leave with compartment door missing. This seems to be an ongoing problem; because over the years this is exactly how I've seen aircraft dispatched over and over again. All Mechanics and Leads shown this situation and MEL came to the same conclusion as I. I still believe I was 'OK'; as far as how the MEL reads. But a lot of confusion could be solved by simply changing the MEL to read: Secure compartment 'door' closed; or compartment 'door' must be secured 'closed'. I have gone around to fellow Mechanics to explain the situation to try to avoid any further problems.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	864906
Time
Date	200912
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Component
Aircraft Component	Galley Furnishing
Person 1
Function	Technician
Qualification	Maintenance Airframe Maintenance Powerplant
Experience	Maintenance Technician 20
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural MEL

A line mechanic describes an ongoing problem with the interpretation of MEL 25-00-11A between mechanics and maintenance control; as to whether or not the md-88 aft galley storage compartment door must be present for a legal deferral.