Discrepancies, Corrections, Deferrals, Minimum Equipment List Training Barr Air Patrol, LLC
Why We re Here To review policies and procedures to properly write defect entries, get them fixed, or properly defer them per Barr policy
Writing an Effective Squawk This is the biggest problem maintenance techs have to deal with from us pilots. A typical squawk goes like this: airplane flies funny What does a tech do with that? Tell the airplane to straighten up and fly right? There is a better way.
Effective Squawks Instead of airplane flies funny say: With hands off, airplane rolls left and stabilizes approximately 15 degrees of bank with ball split on the right. Rudder trim is centered. This gives the techs enough details to start looking for causes of the problem. This said, some problems are simple, such as landing light inoperative and don t require a big squawk entry.
Example Squawk This level of detail helps the technicians understand that the problem is related to one radio and not the whole panel. It also helps them understand that the problem is on the receiver side of the problem radio. DISCREPANCY: Item # Leg # 1 4 Comm 2 is unreadable on receive but ATC reports transmit side is loud and clear. Comm 1 is unaffected. PILOT SIGNATURE: Joe Pilot, 123456 DATE: 4 / 18 /2011
Correcting Squawks First Things First: DO NOT depart with a squawk unless it has been corrected! If you depart with no corrective action, you are violating the FARs and Barr policy What is a corrective action? Fixing: get a local A&P to correct the problem and sign the log book. Deferring: using the FARs for guidance and legally deferring an item to a more convenient time for repair.
Corrective Action Entries For example, let s say your oil pressure gauge quits working. You squawk: Oil pressure gauge stopped indicating. Cylinder head and oil temperature normal So, you land. You call the DOM, and because it is an FAR required item, he has a local AP technician look at it. He replaces the oil pressure transducer. Here s what he needs to put in the logbook: Troubleshot system. Found oil pressure transducer inoperative. Removed oil pressure transducer, part number 12345, serial number 3567, and replaced it with part number 12345, serial number 9876. Ran engine, performed leak check. Aircraft returned to service. John Mechanic, 485769AP If anyone turns wrenches on your aircraft, you may not depart until an official, signed entry is put into the aircraft logbook.
Corrective Action Example CORRECTIVE ACTION: Troubleshot oil pressure indicating system. Found oil pressure transducer inoperative and verified engine oil pressure with calibrated gauge. Replaced transducer PN 13569, SN 74956 with new transducer PN 13569, SN 87878. Ran engine and checked for leaks. Aircraft returned to service. Rob Mechanic, 18375960IA
Deferrals That said, there are squawks that do not need to be fixed right away because they are not required equipment according to the FARs. A good example is air conditioning. Let s say your A/C quits working. You write: Air conditioning stopped cooling. Blower fan works. Againthe details here help them to start the troubleshooting process This is a deferrable squawk. So, you call the DOM and he says you can defer it. But, there are certain steps you have to take to defer it. In particular, you need to placard the system inoperative and collar the circuit breaker.
Deferrals So, because you can defer it, you write the following: Deferred per DOM and FAR 91.213 to next inspection. Disabled A/C by collaring circuit breaker and placarding system inoperative. Joe Pilot, 394853 Next, you transfer this entry to the Deferred Defects log in the back of the logbook. Then, you placard the system and disable it. Finally, you get back to flying.
Deferral Example Log CORRECTIVE ACTION: Deferred inoperative air conditioner per Barr Air Patrol DOM and FAR 91.213. Placarded AC switch "inoperative" and collared circuit breaker to prevent use. 4.18.2011 Joe Pilot, 123456
Deferral Example Aircraft Placard the system Disable the system by collaring the breaker
Deferred Defects Log In each aircraft logbook there is a summary of any deferred defects, so that everyone who flies or works on the airplane knows what is inoperative and deferred. There are two actions that a pilot takes regarding the deferred defects log: Write down deferred log entries. Check it during preflight for the following: Make sure no squawks have gone beyond their deferral date Make sure no squawks will go beyond their deferral date before you get back. If there are squawks that may go beyond deferral, speak with the DOM to check the status they may be waiting for parts to finish the repair.
Deferred Defects Log Example DEFERRED DISCREPANCY SHEET AIRCRAFT N NUMBER 821BA NO DATE DISCREPANCY Due Date C/W Date Mechanic 1 4/8/2011 Air conditioner inoperative 4/15/2011 4/12/2011 GNR 2 4/9/2011 Attitude indicator failed. Parts on order, expected delivery 4/19/2011 4/22/2011 3 Fixed squawks have a C/W (complied with) date and mechanic initials Open squawks have no C/W date or mechanic initials. Check the due date before you fly!
Minimum Equipment Lists This applies ONLY to the P.68, C 310, and C 210. Some squawks are deferred by the MEL. The issue with the MEL is that certain squawks have drop dead dates. So, if you defer a squawk per MEL, be sure to note the drop dead date.
MEL Dates and Repair Categories The defining feature of an MEL are the drop dead dates when a squawk MUST be fixed. These are according to the Repair Category: A as specified in the MEL B 3 days C 10 days D 120 days Note that the clock doesn t start until the day AFTER you discover the squawk.
MEL Requirements The other factor to consider is the Installed and required columns. For example, most aircraft have two radios. Looking at the Installed category for the C 310, it reads 2 as in, two installed radios. What if one is broken? Look at the Required column. It says 1, which means we can fly with one radio inoperative.
MEL Procedures Before you can MEL an item, you must check to see what Operations (O) and Maintenance (M) procedures are required to defer it. For example, if the heater stops working you must have maintenance do specific actions as listed on the next page. M items will need maintenance personnel to perform the actions unless otherwise indicated O items are for you the pilot to perform.
MEL Procedures (M) Procedures detail a maintenance action. (O) Procedures detail an operations (pilot) action
MEL Entry So, let s say the heater in the C 310 is inoperative. You can defer this per MEL. Write it this way: Heater fan does not run. Deferred per Barr Air Patrol MEL chapter 21, item #2, repair due date 5/5/2011. Joe Pilot 186684 4/15/2011 Remember, if it s not in the MEL, you can t defer it so no trying to depart with one engine inoperative!!! Don t forget to transfer this squawk to the Deferred Defects Log!
MEL Example Entry CORRECTIVE ACTION: Deferred inoperative heater fan per Barr Air Patrol MEL Chapter 21, item #2. Heater may not be used on the ground and must be turn off before landing. Repair due per MEL on 4/29/2011 Joe Pilot, 123456
Deferred Defects MEL Entry DEFERRED DISCREPANCY SHEET AIRCRAFT N NUMBER 821BA NO DATE DISCREPANCY Due Date C/W Date Mechanic 1 5/5/2010 Aircraft cabin heater fan stopped working. Deferred per Barr MEL chapter 21 5/16/2010 item #2. Due date 5/16/2010. 2 Remember when using an MEL, you may not go past the due dateit s a drop dead date which is why communicating these issues to mx is critical!
Summary Aircraft are mechanical systems that sometimes have failures. It s up to us to ensure we communicate those failures effectively so maintenance can fix them. You may not defer an FAR required item for our missions (day VFR pipeline patrol) You may defer non required items per the deferral or MEL process Check the deferred discrepancies list before each flight to avoid over flying items that are due for repair Please complete the last page to receive credit for doing this computer based training.
Completion Certificate I have received training in the proper use of defect entries, deferrals, deferred defect logs, and minimum equipment lists Pilot Name: Pilot Signature: