A First Officer and Captain report about a missing slat seal on their MD-83 aircraft that was signed-off as deferred; but did not have the required placards installed on their Logbook; or on the Instrument panel; 'in clear view of both pilots' per their CDL 57-9 and CDL-1; for a no Flaps 40 landing restrictions. Maintenance Control did not agree placards were required.
Synopsis
A First Officer and Captain report about a missing slat seal on their MD-83 aircraft that was signed-off as deferred; but did not have the required placards installed on their Logbook; or on the Instrument panel; 'in clear view of both pilots' per their CDL 57-9 and CDL-1; for a no Flaps 40 landing restrictions. Maintenance Control did not agree placards were required.
Narrative
As we began the orientation pre-flight; we reviewed the flight plan and noticed a Dispatch remark concerning CDL 57-9; in regard to a missing Slat Seal. As we reviewed the Logbook; we were surprised not to see a placard in the clear view pockets and on the Instrument panel alerting crews to the CDL's Associated Limitations -- there was simply an open line entry on the last line of the Deferral sheet. It became clear that certainly there should have been a placard 'in clear view of both pilots;' according to the CDL General Limitations on page CDL-1. After some discussion; (before our FAA 'guest' joined us on the flight deck to jump seat to ZZZ1); the Captain called Maintenance Control. Initially the Maintenance Control person claimed that there was no need for a placard as there was no reference to any requirement for placards in full view of the pilots regarding Associated Limitations on page 57-9. The Maintenance Control person continued to suggest we were already completely legal and that no placard was called for. However; the Captain and I were in disagreement with this 'advice' given that page CDL-1 clearly states that a placard is required when a limitation is associated with a CDL issue. Clearly; as bullet # 2 indicates; that flaps 40 are NOT to be used for landing; this should have generated the required placard in full view of both pilots. The Maintenance Control person didn't appear to have awareness that page CDL-1 could apply here; only maintaining that there was no mention of required additional placards on page 57-9. Finally; the Maintenance Control person relented and; as we already had a Contract Mechanic working another issue; again we were correct in our interpretation. The Contract Mechanic updated the CDL; upon the Captain's info to Maintenance entry in the Logbook; and the placards were duly installed. This airplane flew with this discrepancy and so several crews have been placed in jeopardy by this Maintenance paperwork error. It should not be too difficult to review whether crews on all 14 previous flights since this CDL realized that they could not land flaps 40. This is the second time in a few months that I've caught MEL issue (prior report) where the Deferral sheet was the only reference in the Logbook and Maintenance Control failed to fully implement the conditions of the MEL/CDL.
Second reporter narrative
Upon arrival at the aircraft; I learned the plane had a Slat Seal missing from the left wing. The item had been written up in the Logbook several days before. The item was signed off as Deferred; however no placard was placed in the front of the Logbook; nor had a placard been installed on the Instrument panel in plain view to both pilots stating any Limitations and/or Restrictions associated with the CDL item; as is required by the General Section of the CDL. I called Maintenance Control and ZZZ Maintenance and had the placards installed before departing.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.