B747 loss of access panel on vertical stabilizer during flight.

Attributes
ACN	347573
Time
Date	199609
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	347573
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I partially removed panel hardware from right vertical stabilizer to gain access to sheared fasteners inside the vertical stabilizer. I failed to document on job write-up status of panel and hardware partially removed. Following shift, gained access through left side and right panel. Never was fully reinstalled. Large bag of fasteners that was hung on right side of panel disappeared. Plane was launched, panel torn off in-flight. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter was assigned to replace a fastener located inside the vertical stabilizer of a B747 aircraft. The assignment was given shortly before the work shift ended. The reporter started removing screws from the access panel on the right side of the vertical stabilizer to gain access for the fastener replacement. The lead mechanic assisted in removing the panel screws because of the limited time left on the work shift. The reporter advised the lead mechanic that it was time to make up write-ups of the work accomplished and punch out. The lead mechanic did not seem concerned about making any job cards on the work accomplished. The reporter also stated he made no write-ups to close up the panel when the job was completed. The reporter has worked for 7 yrs with the air carrier and has 10 years military mechanic experience. The FAA has not contacted the reporter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 LOSS OF ACCESS PANEL ON VERT STABILIZER DURING FLT.

Narrative: I PARTIALLY REMOVED PANEL HARDWARE FROM R VERT STABILIZER TO GAIN ACCESS TO SHEARED FASTENERS INSIDE THE VERT STABILIZER. I FAILED TO DOCUMENT ON JOB WRITE-UP STATUS OF PANEL AND HARDWARE PARTIALLY REMOVED. FOLLOWING SHIFT, GAINED ACCESS THROUGH L SIDE AND R PANEL. NEVER WAS FULLY REINSTALLED. LARGE BAG OF FASTENERS THAT WAS HUNG ON R SIDE OF PANEL DISAPPEARED. PLANE WAS LAUNCHED, PANEL TORN OFF INFLT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS ASSIGNED TO REPLACE A FASTENER LOCATED INSIDE THE VERT STABILIZER OF A B747 ACFT. THE ASSIGNMENT WAS GIVEN SHORTLY BEFORE THE WORK SHIFT ENDED. THE RPTR STARTED REMOVING SCREWS FROM THE ACCESS PANEL ON THE R SIDE OF THE VERT STABILIZER TO GAIN ACCESS FOR THE FASTENER REPLACEMENT. THE LEAD MECH ASSISTED IN REMOVING THE PANEL SCREWS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED TIME LEFT ON THE WORK SHIFT. THE RPTR ADVISED THE LEAD MECH THAT IT WAS TIME TO MAKE UP WRITE-UPS OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED AND PUNCH OUT. THE LEAD MECH DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING ANY JOB CARDS ON THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED. THE RPTR ALSO STATED HE MADE NO WRITE-UPS TO CLOSE UP THE PANEL WHEN THE JOB WAS COMPLETED. THE RPTR HAS WORKED FOR 7 YRS WITH THE ACR AND HAS 10 YEARS MIL MECH EXPERIENCE. THE FAA HAS NOT CONTACTED THE RPTR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.