A Q400 was dispatched with an MEL for the Inboard Spoilers inoperative when infact the Outboard were inoperative. The error was discovered after the aircraft departed with an old release.
Synopsis
A Q400 was dispatched with an MEL for the Inboard Spoilers inoperative when infact the Outboard were inoperative. The error was discovered after the aircraft departed with an old release.
Narrative
We had an aircraft swap/quick turn and I failed to notice MEL 27-60-4; Roll Spoiler Ground Modes INOP; for the Outboard Spoilers. Additionally; there was no associated MEL sticker next to the Flight/Taxi Switch that would have brought the MEL that was overlooked in the front of the Maintenance Logbook to my attention. We were cleared onto the runway and per our procedures; the FLIGHT/TAXI Switch is taken from Taxi to Flight at this time. The ROLL OUTBD advisory light did not illuminate and so I presumed we had a spoiler issue and contacted Maintenance. They advised that we return to the gate. It was brought to my attention that I wrote up the Inboard Spoilers as having failed when the correct MEL was already in place. The Maintenance personnel cleared the incorrect write-up and the aircraft was then flown with essentially an open write-up. The event occurred as a result of an aircraft swap/quick turn; other distractions; and obviously an incomplete review of the MEL in the front of the book. Additionally; no associated MEL sticker was next to the FLIGHT/Taxi switch in the flight deck. I was made aware of this event; by a Manager; 3 days after the event and as a result of the Maintenance individual self reporting.Our aircraft was dispatched with Roll Spoiler Ground Modes INOP for the Outboard Spoilers. Dispatch was queried as to whether the adjustment had been taken and the answer was 'YES'. We had no such indication on our Revision 2 of the release but the Dispatcher indicated that the correction for the Performance Data was in place. We were contacted airborne by the Dispatcher who informed us that the station had not printed out the latest revision (Revision 3) and so we departed with uncorrected data. Current data was provided by SELCAL for landing. The disconnect came when we did not confirm the latest Revision to be active while on the ground. Also the late swap/Quick Turn and miscommunication with Dispatch contributed; as we were not in possession of the latest revision to the Release. We should have queried Dispatch as to the Revision number of the release that was being discussed.
Second reporter narrative
Outbound crew did not properly read their flight release; and as such; they did not notice that the outboard roll spoilers were deferred. Upon selection of 'Flight' on the Flight/Taxi switch; they noticed that the ROLL SPOILER OTBD GND light was still illuminated. Upon return to the gate; I was verbally told by the Captain that he noticed after the fact that the outboard spoilers were on MEL. When he was filling out the discrepancy log in the logbook; he wrote INBD instead of OTBD. He also noticed in the discrepancy that there was no placard on the glare shield. I reviewed the MEL for proper operation procedures and found that the light would come on. I signed the logbook off as already on MEL; and relocated the placard from the overhead panel where it was incorrectly placed by an on-call Mechanic. I did not notice that the Captain wrote up the wrong set of spoilers. The event happened at the beginning of my shift; at the gate. Two days later; an outgoing crew was reviewing the log book and questioned the write-up. I did not notice that the Captain wrote up inboard spoilers instead of outboard spoilers. The plane was a return to the gate; fully boarded. The ops tests were complied with to ensure that the inboard spoilers
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.