MD-11
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; MEL; Procedure; Aircraft; Chart Or Publication
MD-11 aircraft arrived. As I was doing my cockpit checks [for] an aircraft turn; station personnel informed me that there was a blown [escape] slide lying on the [aircraft's] ballast pallet. I looked at the onboard deferred list and saw that the blown slide was on MEL [for] the Right Forward (R1) Entry Door. It was stated on the deferred list at the end of the placard that the slide was removed; but the placard did not state what to do with the slide. Not knowing that the Engineering Authorization (EA) had not been done; but knowing it could not go with the ballast pallet; I removed it and shipped it to Stores. Aircraft left on [next] flight. MEL was not properly followed when being [applied] to aircraft and MEL placard was not clear as to what was to be done with the slide since the MEL covers two possible scenarios; making it unclear to someone coming in after the fact on the flight line. Insure MEL is properly performed when originally attached to aircraft. It should be stated on the placard that slide should stay on; or be removed from aircraft. There should be two separate MELs; one for each scenario. I will make sure I will read entire MEL before taking any action.
A Line Mechanic reports about an MD-11 aircraft that arrived with a Right Forward (R-1) Entry door escape slide that was previously blown; deferred; and laying on the aircraft's ballast pallet. Mechanic noted there should be two separate deferrals indicating whether a blown slide should be removed from the aircraft or remain onboard.