FLC OF AN MDT ACR ACFT OPERATED AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT SINCE ONE FUEL BOOST WAS NOTED INOP IN THE MAINT LOG AND COULD NOT BE DEFERRED.

1994-03 · NASA ASRS report 266159

Date: 1994-03 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|other-unspecified

Synopsis

FLC OF AN MDT ACR ACFT OPERATED AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT SINCE ONE FUEL BOOST WAS NOTED INOP IN THE MAINT LOG AND COULD NOT BE DEFERRED.

Narrative

DURING A QUICK TURN I WAS NOTIFIED BY OPS; THAT WE HAD AN ACFT CHANGE. WHEN I ENTERED THE COCKPIT I WAS MET BY OUR MAINT PERSONNEL WHO WAS BUSY DOING PAPERWORK FOR 2 MEL'S. THE ACFT HAD SEVERAL OTHER MEL ITEMS ALREADY. WHEN I QUESTIONED MAINT ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF ONE MEL; A FUEL PUMP; THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS LEGAL AND WITHIN COMPANY PROCS. BUT WITH ONLY 10 MINS TO SCHEDULE DEP; THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ARGUE. WHEN I CALLED MAINT CTL ON THE TELEPHONE; THEY DID NOT ANSWER. ONE MECH SHOWED ME THE MEL BOOK WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE ACFT COULD BE OPERATED WITHOUT 1 ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP WORKED AND THE PROB WAS WITH THE SWITCH IN THE COCKPIT; IT WOULD SIMPLY NOT STAY IN THE 'ON' POS. I ACCEPTED THE ACFT AND FLEW 1 ROUND TRIP; AND AFTER RETURNING; I DISCUSSED MY PROB WITH MY UNION REPRESENTATIVE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE ACFT COULD NOT BE OPERATED WITH THE FUEL PUMP SWITCH OFF; BECAUSE IT WOULD CLOSE A MOTIVE FLOW VALVE AMONG OTHER THINGS. I HAD FLOWN AN ACFT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GNDED. I WOULD ALSO HAVE REFUELED THE ACFT IF I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO OUR MAINT CTL SUPVRS AND HAD TIME TO READ OUR MANUALS; BUT OUR COMPANY AGENTS WERE TRYING TO PUSH ME ON TIME.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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