B787-1000
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Workload; Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action
MEL; Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
Aircraft X was scheduled for departure. But flight crew reported a maintenance message 'NLG UP SOL' prior to departure. While trouble shooting this message; The AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual) tells you to cycle the gear handle to clear the message. We decided due to A/C fully loaded with passengers on board it would be best to place this item on MEL.While searching MEL REF # 32-31-X we also encounter the same situation. Mel # 32-31-X procedure is to follow AMM 32-31-XX. Under this procedure you have to verify which system is at fault. This procedure has you to cycle the gear handle. Due to this task; we had to get all passengers to deplane. The problem we encountered; No where in the AMM; GMM; or any manual were we able to find a procedure that allowed the gear handle to be cycled while passengers onboard. We were also asked by a supervisor if we can cycle the gear handle even though passengers were onboard. This supervisor was very persuasive and pushed the technicians to cycle the gear handle. We stood our ground and refused to cycle the gear handle while passengers on board.We have to address this MEL and update our manuals and procedures when we have passengers onboard. It is very critical that we have this in writing. Cycling the gear handle while passengers onboard only increases the risk of injuries.
Captain reported he and technicians refused to sign an aircraft as airworthy until MEL procedures were accomplished. The MEL required cycling of the landing gear control handle; which they refused to do until the passengers were deplaned.