Captain reports an equipment cooling fan placarded on a B757-200 non-er (extended range) aircraft wa...

Narrative:

Equipment cooling fan placarded for B757 aircraft per MEL 21-22A. This covers aircraft with an auxiliary (aux) supply fan; and are listed in this MEL as aircraft xye through xym and xzc through xzt only. Aircraft xzl; a B757 non-er (extended range) aircraft; although seeming to be included in these tail numbers; does not have an aux fan. Maintenance control was misled by the MEL also. It took three calls to them [maintenance control] and only after checking the aircraft schematic did they determine that this aircraft had no aux fan and that MEL chapter 21-22a did not apply. The aircraft had flown for five days under this proviso when it should have been a day VMC only airplane. The MEL appears to be incorrect.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Captain reports an Equipment Cooling Fan placarded on a B757-200 Non-ER (Extended Range) aircraft was improperly deferred under MEL 21-22-00 that covers aircraft with an Auxiliary Supply Fan. Aircraft did not have an Aux Fan and flew for five days when it should have been a 'DAY VMC' only airplane.

Narrative: Equipment Cooling Fan placarded for B757 aircraft per MEL 21-22A. This covers aircraft with an Auxiliary (Aux) Supply Fan; and are listed in this MEL as aircraft XYE through XYM and XZC through XZT only. Aircraft XZL; a B757 Non-ER (Extended Range) aircraft; although seeming to be included in these Tail Numbers; does not have an Aux Fan. Maintenance Control was misled by the MEL also. It took three calls to them [Maintenance Control] and only after checking the aircraft schematic did they determine that this aircraft had no Aux Fan and that MEL Chapter 21-22a did not apply. The aircraft had flown for five days under this proviso when it should have been a DAY VMC only airplane. The MEL appears to be incorrect.

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	959631
Time
Date	201107
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cooling Fan any cooling fan
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural MEL

Captain reports an equipment cooling fan placarded on a B757-200 non-er (extended range) aircraft was improperly deferred under MEL 21-22-00 that covers aircraft with an auxiliary supply fan. Aircraft did not have an aux fan and flew for five days when it should have been a 'day VMC' only airplane.