Narrative:

While boarding a flight attendant reported a 'spongy' area of the floor; near the boarding area at 1L. We reported it and called maintenance. [Maintenance] showed up; removed the carpeting and discovered that the forward east/east (electronics and equipment) compartment door/trap door was completely missing. Instead; someone had placed a piece of plywood and covered it with carpet. Over time; perhaps due to repeated cleanings; the wood had become worn and was literally rotting away. Maintenance found the correct east/east compartment door; a boeing part; installed it; replaced the carpet and we were dispatched. [Maintenance] told us that if we did not have that part; the airplane could not have left the station. Fortunately it didn't get stuck in ZZZ. There were some very disturbing things about finding the unapproved part; a piece of wood instead of the required door.the boeing approved part has a secure locking mechanism; preventing aircraft access to the cabin and cockpit from the insecure east/east compartment. How could someone deliberately cut and place a piece of wood there; then cover it with carpet; and let the airplane fly around who knows how long in that condition? As well as being unairworthy; per se; and deliberate violation of fars by someone; it also is a security breach because these airplanes fly to international locations. All of our fire; smoke; and toxic fumes procedures presume the manufacturer certified and tested level of fire protection. Any east/east compartment overheat or fire would have sacrificed protection levels by replacing the approved access door (which seals the compartment) with a flammable and non-airtight piece of wood. And this airplane flies ETOPS every day!

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The Captain of a B767 was informed by a Flight Attendant of a spongy area on the floor near the forward entry door. It was discovered that Forward E/E compartment door was missing; and the hole was covered with a piece of plywood.

Narrative: While boarding a flight attendant reported a 'spongy' area of the floor; near the boarding area at 1L. We reported it and called maintenance. [Maintenance] showed up; removed the carpeting and discovered that the Forward E/E (Electronics and Equipment) compartment door/trap door was completely missing. Instead; someone had placed a piece of plywood and covered it with carpet. Over time; perhaps due to repeated cleanings; the wood had become worn and was literally rotting away. Maintenance found the correct E/E compartment door; a Boeing part; installed it; replaced the carpet and we were dispatched. [Maintenance] told us that if we did not have that part; the airplane could not have left the station. Fortunately it didn't get stuck in ZZZ. There were some very disturbing things about finding the unapproved part; a piece of wood instead of the required door.The Boeing approved part has a secure locking mechanism; preventing aircraft access to the cabin and cockpit from the insecure E/E compartment. How could someone deliberately cut and place a piece of wood there; then cover it with carpet; and let the airplane fly around who knows how long in that condition? As well as being unairworthy; per se; and deliberate violation of FARs by someone; it also is a security breach because these airplanes fly to international locations. All of our Fire; Smoke; and Toxic Fumes procedures presume the manufacturer certified and tested level of fire protection. Any E/E compartment overheat or fire would have sacrificed protection levels by replacing the approved access door (which seals the compartment) with a flammable and non-airtight piece of wood. And this airplane flies ETOPS every day!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.