MEL ata 33-10-1 instrument panel lighting

[pilotdreams]

Individual lights may be inoperative provided remaining lights are:

a) Sufficient to clearly illuminate all required instruments, controls and other devices for which it is provided,

b) Positioned so that direct rays are shielded from flight crew member’s eyes, and

c) Lighting configuration and intensity is acceptable to the flight crew.

If an oil pressure gauge wasn't backlit, would it fall under this MEL?

[nine sixteenths]

Depends on the airplane, but I suspect that if there is other lighting of some form available that would illuminate that guage (post light that could be redirected, indirect instrument lighting, etc) it would probably be ok.

The (c) option is kind of the final answer on that, in a way, since it leaves the acceptability of it up to the pilot.

Kinda depends on the flying happening too, if its a day flight this should be somewhat irrelevant.

My 2 cents anyways, without knowing all the details of the situation.

9/16"

[CID]

Do you mean that if the gauge was normally backlit and the light failed or if it's not normally backlit but lit by external light?

Either way, the intent is that "required" instruments continue to be readable. An oil pressure gauge is "required" so it needs to remain readible.

[flatface]

Deleted

[plhought]

I find that most pilots fly with a bit of indirect lighting anyways, so it usually isn't a problem to defer a day or two while your waiting for a new gauge.

As much as post lamps are a pain some times, it is nice to not have to send put a whole gauge just for one bloody bulb.

[pilotdreams]

Normally backlit gauge.

[conehead]

Got a flashlight? You're good to go.