Narrative:

During preflight cockpit setup; engine 2 squib 1 failed test. We notified maintenance and also alerted them that the item had been written up before. Maintenance came to the cockpit and troubleshot this item and other minor items we had written up. A short while later an MEL card comes over the ACARS printer for the deferral of the squib test system. The first officer and I remarked how lengthy the maintenance check was. Not 5 minutes later; one of the mechanics came to the cockpit; said we were 'good to go;' and would we write the deferral number on the sticker on the panel. I queried the mechanic if the maintenance check was done per the MEL card; and he replied yes. With that; we pushed back and departed normally. Approximately 50 or so minutes into flight; we get an ACARS message from dispatch telling us that we need to land soon; the maintenance check was not complete and we need to land. After reviewing nearest airport and weather; we jointly agree to return to departure airport. We descended early to try to avoid an overweight landing. We brief flight attendants and passengers - normal landing; etc. I took control of the aircraft for landing due to planned/possible overweight landing. We requested and landed on the longest runway. We landed normally and rolled out close to the end; not touching the brakes until 80 knots. We were 100 pounds under mglw at touchdown. A normal landing. Operations gave us a different aircraft for our flight. We were never talked to by any maintenance personnel during the turn. Dispatcher was exceptional during the entire event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 Captain reports being dispatched with MEL deferral for engine fire protection squib test failure. Enroute the crew is informed that inspections required by the MEL were not accomplished prior to departure. Crew elects to return to departure airport.

Narrative: During preflight cockpit setup; engine 2 squib 1 failed test. We notified maintenance and also alerted them that the item had been written up before. Maintenance came to the cockpit and troubleshot this item and other minor items we had written up. A short while later an MEL card comes over the ACARS printer for the deferral of the squib test system. The First Officer and I remarked how lengthy the maintenance check was. Not 5 minutes later; one of the mechanics came to the cockpit; said we were 'good to go;' and would we write the deferral number on the sticker on the panel. I queried the Mechanic if the maintenance check was done per the MEL card; and he replied yes. With that; we pushed back and departed normally. Approximately 50 or so minutes into flight; we get an ACARS message from Dispatch telling us that we need to land soon; the maintenance check was not complete and we need to land. After reviewing nearest airport and weather; we jointly agree to return to departure airport. We descended early to try to avoid an overweight landing. We brief flight attendants and passengers - normal landing; etc. I took control of the aircraft for landing due to planned/possible overweight landing. We requested and landed on the longest runway. We landed normally and rolled out close to the end; not touching the brakes until 80 knots. We were 100 pounds under MGLW at touchdown. A normal landing. Operations gave us a different aircraft for our flight. We were never talked to by any maintenance personnel during the turn. Dispatcher was exceptional during the entire event.

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.