B747 CREW ACCEPTED A MAINT DEFERRAL OF AN MEL ITEM THAT WAS IMPROPER. THE ITEM DID NOT MEET THE TERMS OF MEL DEFERRAL.

Narrative

ON OCT/XA/98 I WAS A FO ON ACR CARGO XXXX FROM RAMSTEIN AIR BASE; GERMANY; TO KUWAIT CITY; KUWAIT. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO RAMSTEIN AIR BASE BY ANOTHER CREW. ACCORDING TO THE INBOUND FLT MECH; THE R WINGTIP NAV LIGHT LENS COVER WAS DISCOVERED MISSING UPON ARR IN RAMSTEIN. THE MEL ALLOWS THE ACFT TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1) A PLACARD BE INSTALLED; 2) AN AIRSPD LIMITING SWITCH BE INSTALLED; 3) TKOF AND CLB DECREMENTS. WHEN THE FLC ARRIVED THE FLT MECH HAD ALREADY SIGNED OFF THE ACFT'S LOGBOOK; SAYING THAT THE MEL HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH. IN FACT; THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MEL WERE NOT COMPLETELY COMPLIED WITH. WE; AS THE CREW; ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY; HOWEVER; ACR CARGO MAINT SIGNED IT OFF. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 417378: WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE ACFT; THE LOGBOOK WAS ALREADY 'SIGNED OFF' INDICATING COMPLIANCE WITH THE MELS. IN FACT; THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MELS WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH FULLY. THE REQUIRED PLACARD AND AIRSPD SWITCH WERE NOT INSTALLED. ACTING AS FE; I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ULTIMATELY. I MUST; HOWEVER; QUESTION AT WHAT POINT CAN I BE ASSURED THAT LOGBOOK ENTRIES BY MAINT ARE ACCURATE AND COMPLETELY COMPLIED WITH.