A B737-300 on first flight out of a c-chk the right pylon right side access panel was found missing ...

Attributes
ACN	517801
Time
Date	200107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : inspector
Experience	maintenance supervisor : 10 maintenance technician : 9
ASRS Report	517801
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : fault isolation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Jul/thu/01 I was notified that aircraft X after leaving ZZZ on jul/thu/01 at XA30 arrived in dca at approximately XC30, where it was noticed that right engine pylon panel #5829R was missing. The aircraft was released from c-chk in ZZZ on jul/wed/01 at approximately XA30. My involvement with this aircraft was partial accomplishment of the post maintenance check card #XXXX-XXX, which is our final inspection card prior to release from c-chk. I inspected area of missing panel jul/wed/01 at XA00 and panel was definitely there and appeared to be secured. Note: time of inspection was approximately 37 hours before aircraft was released due to other problems. I recommend a new policy be implemented that the post maintenance check card must only be valid if the aircraft is released within 1 hour of completion or the card should be voided and reissued. Also, the post maintenance card plainly states that is only a general visual walkaround. In my opinion this should be changed to a detailed inspection. The missing panel has cam-lock type fasteners. I recommend an airworthiness directive note to require clearly marking and placarding index marks to indicate latched and unlatched condition that can be seen from several ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 ON FIRST FLT OUT OF A C-CHK THE R PYLON R SIDE ACCESS PANEL WAS FOUND MISSING AFTER LNDG.

Narrative: JUL/THU/01 I WAS NOTIFIED THAT ACFT X AFTER LEAVING ZZZ ON JUL/THU/01 AT XA30 ARRIVED IN DCA AT APPROX XC30, WHERE IT WAS NOTICED THAT R ENG PYLON PANEL #5829R WAS MISSING. THE ACFT WAS RELEASED FROM C-CHK IN ZZZ ON JUL/WED/01 AT APPROX XA30. MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS ACFT WAS PARTIAL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE POST MAINT CHK CARD #XXXX-XXX, WHICH IS OUR FINAL INSPECTION CARD PRIOR TO RELEASE FROM C-CHK. I INSPECTED AREA OF MISSING PANEL JUL/WED/01 AT XA00 AND PANEL WAS DEFINITELY THERE AND APPEARED TO BE SECURED. NOTE: TIME OF INSPECTION WAS APPROX 37 HRS BEFORE ACFT WAS RELEASED DUE TO OTHER PROBS. I RECOMMEND A NEW POLICY BE IMPLEMENTED THAT THE POST MAINT CHK CARD MUST ONLY BE VALID IF THE ACFT IS RELEASED WITHIN 1 HR OF COMPLETION OR THE CARD SHOULD BE VOIDED AND REISSUED. ALSO, THE POST MAINT CARD PLAINLY STATES THAT IS ONLY A GENERAL VISUAL WALKAROUND. IN MY OPINION THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A DETAILED INSPECTION. THE MISSING PANEL HAS CAM-LOCK TYPE FASTENERS. I RECOMMEND AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE NOTE TO REQUIRE CLRLY MARKING AND PLACARDING INDEX MARKS TO INDICATE LATCHED AND UNLATCHED CONDITION THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM SEVERAL FT.

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.

A B737-300 on first flight out of a c-chk the right pylon right side access panel was found missing after landing.