Date: 202007
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Fuselage
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; Routine Inspection
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Manuals; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I am writing to provide details about an apparent misinterpretation in our dent-logging policy. During a through-flight; Ramp reported a small scratch in the fuselage aft of the L2 entry door. I contacted Dispatch and was connected to Maintenance. After checking the dent log; Maintenance advised me there was no history on this specific dent. I asked how we should proceed; to which Maintenance asked if the dent was something I felt was significant. Confused by the question; I responded by asking if I was authorized to make that decision? Had there been some policy change which gave the Captain latitude in dealing with scratches/dents?Maintenance referenced the notice; by number; which apparently allowed me such authority. Dispatch agreed. This was news to me; but given that a small scratch on the aft fuselage was hardly a Safety-of-Flight issue; I accepted their argument. Maintenance indicated that the scratch could be taken care of at a maintenance base. Maintenance left the call; but I continued to talk with Dispatch. The notice Maintenance had referenced was not in my EFB. Being uncertain as to whether Maintenance had different notices than the pilots; I asked Dispatch to continue to look for the applicable information. Perhaps; the bulletin/notice had been incorporated into our manuals. I hung up and began to prepare the aircraft for flight.Dispatch contacted me shortly before pushback and supplied the following information: 'The Captain is the sole source to determine if the discrepancy needs to be documented in the aircraft logbook. Company Ground Operations Employees are trained and have experience recognizing potential aircraft structural defects.'Dispatch advised me that this allowed me some latitude in making the decision as to whether or not I am required to log the event. Furthermore; he said he had discussed the issue with the Chief Pilot in the Operations Center; and that he was also in agreement. Satisfied with what appeared to be a policy change; and because Maintenance; Dispatch; and the Chief Pilot of the Operations Center had given me their blessing; I accepted the aircraft and continued the day.Upon terminating in ZZZ; I was not met by Maintenance. Attempting to be responsible; I elected to write up the scratch in the logbook so that Maintenance could place it in their records; thus minimizing the possibility of future issues. The following day; I contacted my Base Chief Pilot; who denied any such change-of-policy existed. The scratch should have been properly recorded as a new defect at the out station.




Synopsis: B737 Captain reported a miscommunication when asking for advice for documenting a scratch in the logbook at an outstation.