Date: 201207
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Night
Aircraft: Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Ignition System
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
Detector: Person Maintenance
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; MEL; Procedure
Primary problem: MEL

Narrative: A Captain came to me and said the MEL 74-1 was done in error. The MEL procedure says two available one required. I took that to mean one Channel had to be operating per engine. Channel-B was operating on both engines. [EICAS message] IGN A Fault L and IGN A Fault R. I made sure Maintenance Control knew when I was Flight Crew Placarding the Ignition-A (IGN A) for BOTH left and right engines and he said that this was the right MEL. The MEL procedure is confusing because it does not specify that you cannot MEL Channel-A on both engines. I complied with the provisions of the MEL. The MEL procedure needs to specifically say that you cannot MEL both IGN A on both engines.

Callback: Reporter stated they followed the directions of their Maintenance Controller when placarding Channel-A Ignition System on their CRJ-700 aircraft prior to departure. But several flights later when they were changing aircraft; another Captain who was taking their aircraft outbound; had relayed to her that Maintenance had boarded the same CRJ-700 and said the aircraft was not legal to fly because Channel-A on both engines were inoperative; and MEL 74-1 should not have been issued.Reporter stated that currently; no Revisions clarifying MEL 74-1 have been issued. Other pilots and mechanics have expressed the same concerns about the confusing MEL wording.

Second narrative: We were directed by Maintenance Control to Flight Crew Placard using MEL 74-1; which states that there were two Ignition Systems; but only one is required for dispatch. We had LEFT and RIGHT Ignition Fault Status Messages for System-A; with no fault messages for the B-Ignition System for either engine. We understood the MEL to mean that since there are two systems and only one is required; we had the one system required for dispatch; or System B; and so were compliant with the procedure. Misinterpretation in our reading of MEL 74-1 and a misleading procedure. [Recommend] providing a clearer wording in the MEL to specifically state that an MEL for Ignition-A cannot be issued for both the L and R Engine at the same time.


Synopsis: A Captain and First Officer report about the need for clearer wording of MEL 74-1 when deferring Engine Ignition Systems Channel-A or-B on CRJ-700 aircraft. They had performed a Flight Crew Placard under the direction of Maintenance Control and departed with Channel-A Ignition inoperative on both engines.