AN MD80 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A FLT ATTENDANT JUMP SEAT OXYGEN SVC PANEL INOP; BUT WITH NO PAX SEAT ASSIGNED TO THE FLT ATTENDANT PER MEL REQUIREMENT.

Date: 2001-11 · Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-mel-cdl|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-maintenance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

AN MD80 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A FLT ATTENDANT JUMP SEAT OXYGEN SVC PANEL INOP; BUT WITH NO PAX SEAT ASSIGNED TO THE FLT ATTENDANT PER MEL REQUIREMENT.

Narrative

HAD MEL ITEM 35-07; WRITE-UP STATED AFT GALLEY FLT ATTENDANT JUMP SEAT HAD LOOSE OXYGEN PANEL. NOTHING INOP WITH SEAT. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS; DEFERRED AND JUMP SEAT INOP. THIS REQUIRES A PAX SEAT TO BE BLOCKED OFF FOR FLT ATTENDANT USE ENRTE; BUT ACCORDING TO MEL FLT ATTENDANT MUST SIT IN JUMP SEAT FOR TKOF AND LNDG IF OP. NO PLACARD WAS PLACED ON JUMP SEAT; BUT ON OXYGEN DOOR LEADING TO QUESTION; IS JUMP SEAT INOP OR NOT? FLT WAS OVERSOLD ZZZ1-ZZZ2 AND CLOSED OUT WITH 129 PAX. AT ZZZ1 AN FAA MAINT INSPECTOR ACCOMPLISHED A RAMP CHK. HIS FOCUS WAS ON THE CONFUSING MEL WRITE-UP AND THE CORRECTIVE ACTION NOT WHETHER WE DID OR DID NOT BLOCK OFF A PAX SEAT. HE FELT THE FLT ATTENDANT JUMP SEAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACARDED AND BLOCKED OFF/NOT USED. HE SAID TO GO ON WITH OUR BUSINESS AND HE WOULD SPEAK TO ZZZ3 FOR CLARIFICATION. WE DID BLOCK OFF PAX SEAT FOR RETURN FLT TO ZZZ2 FOR FLT ATTENDANT USE. BOTTOM LINE; IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CHK THE MEL AND COMPLY. BECAUSE OF THE WX SIT AT DEN; SNOW; MY FOCUS WAS ON RWY CONDITION AND PREPARING FOR MY ARR CAUSING ME TO RUSH ONCE AT THE GATE OVERLOOKING THE REQUIREMENT TO BLOCK A SEAT. MEL STATES IN A BLACK BOX; IT IS THE DISPATCHER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COORDINATE BLOCK SEAT LOCATION INFO WITH THE AGENT AND CAPT. THE MESSAGE WAS ABBREVIATED ON THE FLT PLAN.

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