E145 flight crew is advised after completion of flight that mechanics had failed to reinstall a larg...

Attributes
ACN	792073
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	792073
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other Other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

We departed ZZZ in the morning and flew to ZZZ1 and ZZZ2. Upon arrival in ZZZ2; we were instructed to contact dispatch. We were then xferred to maintenance control and they advised us that maintenance in ZZZ may have forgotten to replace a panel on the aircraft before they towed it to the gate that morning. Upon inspection; it was found that they had not replaced the flap transmission control panel. This panel is located in an inconspicuous location underneath the aircraft aft of the main gear. Despite the large size (2 ft by 3 ft); the location makes it difficult to notice that it was missing due to the fact that no major points of inspection during the preflight adequately cover the area and it is not noticed by someone walking around the aircraft. An MEL does not exist that would cover the panel for operation. As a result the aircraft was ferried to ZZZ3 for panel installation. I could not believe that someone would forget to install this panel back on the aircraft. And I would assume that procedures are in place to prevent it from happening.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E145 FLT CREW IS ADVISED AFTER COMPLETION OF FLT THAT MECHANICS HAD FAILED TO REINSTALL A LARGE PANEL ON THE BELLY OF THE ACFT FOLLOWING A MAINT PROC. ITS ABSENCE WAS NOT NOTED DURING PREFLT DUE TO ITS LOCATION NOT BEING ROUTINELY VISIBLE.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED ZZZ IN THE MORNING AND FLEW TO ZZZ1 AND ZZZ2. UPON ARR IN ZZZ2; WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT DISPATCH. WE WERE THEN XFERRED TO MAINT CTL AND THEY ADVISED US THAT MAINT IN ZZZ MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN TO REPLACE A PANEL ON THE ACFT BEFORE THEY TOWED IT TO THE GATE THAT MORNING. UPON INSPECTION; IT WAS FOUND THAT THEY HAD NOT REPLACED THE FLAP XMISSION CTL PANEL. THIS PANEL IS LOCATED IN AN INCONSPICUOUS LOCATION UNDERNEATH THE ACFT AFT OF THE MAIN GEAR. DESPITE THE LARGE SIZE (2 FT BY 3 FT); THE LOCATION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO NOTICE THAT IT WAS MISSING DUE TO THE FACT THAT NO MAJOR POINTS OF INSPECTION DURING THE PREFLT ADEQUATELY COVER THE AREA AND IT IS NOT NOTICED BY SOMEONE WALKING AROUND THE ACFT. AN MEL DOES NOT EXIST THAT WOULD COVER THE PANEL FOR OP. AS A RESULT THE ACFT WAS FERRIED TO ZZZ3 FOR PANEL INSTALLATION. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WOULD FORGET TO INSTALL THIS PANEL BACK ON THE ACFT. AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT PROCS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

E145 flight crew is advised after completion of flight that mechanics had failed to reinstall a large panel on the belly of the aircraft following a maintenance procedure. Its absence was not noted during preflight due to its location not being routinely visible.