Service difficulty report · Panel · Aerosp ATR72212

Difficulty date
February 21, 2012
Submitted
February 25, 2012
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N821FX
Make and model
Aerosp ATR72212
Aircraft serial
253
Aircraft time
31,896 hours, 30,794 cycles
Part
Panel
Part number
S5391205000200
Condition
Separated
Location
Fuselage
Part time
31,896 hours, 30,794 cycles
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

AIRCRAFT SUFFERED AN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE STARBOARD CENTER LATERAL PANEL OF THE WING TO FUSELAGE FAIRING. THE SEPARATION OCCURRED EN ROUTE AND HAD JUST BEEN GIVEN DISCRETION FROM FL 190 TO 10,000 FEET. JUST AFTER THE TOP OF THE DESCENT THE CREW HEARD AN AUDIBLE THUD. AFTER THE THUD, THE CREW HEARD A SLIGHT HUM OR WHISTLING SOUND. CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE A GEAR DOOR THAT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, THE CREW BEGAN SLOWING AND LOWERED THE GEAR TO ENSURE IT WOULD EXTEND PROPERLY. THEY EXECUTED A VISUAL APPROACH TO RWY 26 AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION, THE MISSING PANEL WAS DISCOVERED. WILL SUBMIT A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT AT A LATER DATE.

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