B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Company Policy
I was working an inbound log item in the cabin of the aircraft. I had been previously asked if (time permitting) I could take a look at the deferred TV system; after I took care of the log item. I observed that the TV system appeared to be operational. The ELB (Electronic Logbook) showed log page deferred per MEL. Per this MEL the TV system should be deactivated by opening and collaring 3 circuit breakers in the flight deck. I went to the flight deck to check the status of the circuit breakers. I observed the circuit breakers to be closed. I then noticed 3 circuit breaker collars on the center pedestal. I asked [the] Captain if she knew where the collars came from. She informed me that she had removed the collars from the circuit breakers and closed the circuit breakers. She said that she had been directed to do so by [Maintenance Control] whom she had spoken to on both the phone and the aircraft radio. The MEL had been reversed without my knowledge. This posed a danger to me since the system was not deactivated as I had anticipated it to be. This posed a danger to the passengers; as this occurred during boarding and neither the Captain or [Maintenance Control] could have been aware of the integrity of the TV system during power-up. The MEL was now out of compliance. If I did not have time to address the deferral; I would not have known that the MEL had been reversed. The aircraft could have been dispatched with an MEL that was not in compliance.Mechanics must be notified when [Maintenance Control] direct flight crews to cycle circuit breakers. This is especially important when a mechanic may already be working on the affected system. MEL items should never be applied or reversed by someone who hasn't set foot on the aircraft. A person cannot guarantee that an aircraft is MEL compliant without personally observing or accomplishing the maintenance actions of the MEL.
Aircraft Maintenance Technician reported that Maintenance Control did not notify him that deferred system circuit breakers were reset by flight crew.