Commercial Fixed Wing
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
Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors; MEL
MEL 38-02; Galley Drains; and MEL 38-04F; lavatory water line/faucet/sink; both MEL's have verbiage that state no leaks allowed. In the past Maintenance Control personnel have had changing and conflicting guidance from Maintenance Control Management about how to use/interpret this verbiage. Most personnel interpret the MEL as 'No Leakage Allowed' and refuse to issue a placard if drain line is confirmed to be leaking.Management; in the past; has used two different approaches: taken Aircraft Out of Service (OTS) once the drain line was troubleshot as leaking; and also at times instructed Maintenance Control personnel to MEL the water supply as a remedy to cover the leaking drain lines. Maintenance Control personnel need clear and consistent guidance on the correct use of MEL 38-02 and 38-04F; when known leakage exist in the drain lines from the sinks. Is it correct usage of the MEL to also issue an MEL to turn-off the water supply and ignore the leakage verbiage in the drain MELs? If this is a correct usage; then put a statement as such under MEL 38-02 and 38-04F to issue additional MEL to turn-off water supply. If this is incorrect usage of the MEL; Management needs to issue a clear; concise statement of such; and insure all pertinent Management and Fleet Engineering personnel understand and follow the guidance.
A Maintenance Controller describes the need for clear and consistent guidance from their Management on the use of MEL 38-02 Galley Drains and MEL 38-04F lavatory water line/faucet sink. Both MELs have verbiage that state 'No leaks allowed'. But Controllers are instructed to issue an MEL to turn-off the water supply and ignore leakage verbiage in the drain MEL.