ACR LGT FLEW A LEG WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH MEL REQUIREMENT.
Synopsis
ACR LGT FLEW A LEG WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH MEL REQUIREMENT.
Narrative
THE INBOUND CREW PRIOR TO US WROTE UP THE CONTINUOUS IGNITION (LOW ENERGY) SYS AS 'POPPING' THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ON #1 ENG DURING TKOF. MAINT COULD NOT REPAIR THE SYS DUE TO A LACK OF APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS. MAINT THEN MEL'ED THE SYS USING A MEL THAT IN OUR OPINION PERTAINS TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONTINUOUS IGNITION SYS. THE MAINT MAN STATED THAT THEY CHKED THEIR PUBLICATIONS AND THAT THE FLT SIDE OF THE IGNITION SYS COULD BE USED BUT WOULD REQUIRE A WRITE UP AT OUR NEXT STOP. (LATER INVESTIGATION BY FLC UNCOVERED A 2 MIN OR 3 MIN OFF/2 MIN ON 23 MIN OFF LIMIT SO SYS IS USABLE. HOWEVER; WHEN FLYING TO NEWARK WITH HURRICANE OFF THE COAST SOMEHOW 4 MIN OF IGNITION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A BIG CUSHION! CORRECTIVE ACTION: FLEET TYPE ACFT FOR ALL. REWRITE MEL TO SPECS. DEAL WITH THIS SPECIFIC SYS ALTERNATE USE. ENHANCE LIMITATION SECTION TO INCLUDE USE OF THE NAME FLT IGNITION VICE HIGH ENERGY SYS TO ENSURE CREWS ARE AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC SYS LIMITATION. HAVE PARTS FOR ALL POSSIBLE SYS AT YOUR HEADQUARTERS AND HUB DOMICILE; ESPECIALLY IAH WHERE ALL MAINT IS MANAGED.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.