Aircraft skin punctured aft of missing spray deflector and not noted until after several legs flown.

Attributes
ACN	431066
Time
Date	199903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ags.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	431066
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Upon arrival at aircraft, logbook documented the nosewheel spray deflector was missing (no other explanation). Item was properly placed on an MEL sticker. My walkaround confirmed the spray deflector was not installed. However, I did not notice that there was a puncture hole aft of nosewheel which likely occurred when the spray deflector apparently broke off of the aircraft. Puncture was missed by the contract mechanic in augusta as well and not discovered until atlanta. Possibly the damage did not occur until after departing augusta by other means. No problems in-flight. Damage was superficial.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT SKIN PUNCTURED AFT OF MISSING SPRAY DEFLECTOR AND NOT NOTED UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL LEGS FLOWN.

Narrative: UPON ARR AT ACFT, LOGBOOK DOCUMENTED THE NOSEWHEEL SPRAY DEFLECTOR WAS MISSING (NO OTHER EXPLANATION). ITEM WAS PROPERLY PLACED ON AN MEL STICKER. MY WALKAROUND CONFIRMED THE SPRAY DEFLECTOR WAS NOT INSTALLED. HOWEVER, I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A PUNCTURE HOLE AFT OF NOSEWHEEL WHICH LIKELY OCCURRED WHEN THE SPRAY DEFLECTOR APPARENTLY BROKE OFF OF THE ACFT. PUNCTURE WAS MISSED BY THE CONTRACT MECH IN AUGUSTA AS WELL AND NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL ATLANTA. POSSIBLY THE DAMAGE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER DEPARTING AUGUSTA BY OTHER MEANS. NO PROBS INFLT. DAMAGE WAS SUPERFICIAL.

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.