First officer discovers cowling of B737-800 unsecured during preflight inspection.

Attributes
ACN	751235
Time
Date	200708
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time type : 4486
ASRS Report	751235
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : airframe technician : powerplant
ASRS Report	751801
Events
Anomaly	maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

During my preflight walkaround; I noticed that the #1 engine cowling latches (all 3) were unlatched. The engine cowling was completely unsecured and moved freely. The logbook had been signed off with a signature in the airworthiness section. The logbook indicated that a service check had been performed earlier that day. The logbook also indicated that the engine driven generator idg for both engines #1 and #2 had also been svced earlier. I made a logbook entry; notified maintenance control; and a maintenance technician came to the aircraft and secured the #1 engine cowling. I think the policy of not having maintenance personnel do exterior inspections should be rescinded and maintenance technicians should resume their exterior inspection responsibilities. Supplemental information from acn 751801: I must have allowed myself to be distraction by someone else or some other task -- failed to latch cowling.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO DISCOVERS COWLING OF B737-800 UNSECURED DURING PREFLT INSPECTION.

Narrative: DURING MY PREFLT WALKAROUND; I NOTICED THAT THE #1 ENG COWLING LATCHES (ALL 3) WERE UNLATCHED. THE ENG COWLING WAS COMPLETELY UNSECURED AND MOVED FREELY. THE LOGBOOK HAD BEEN SIGNED OFF WITH A SIGNATURE IN THE AIRWORTHINESS SECTION. THE LOGBOOK INDICATED THAT A SVC CHK HAD BEEN PERFORMED EARLIER THAT DAY. THE LOGBOOK ALSO INDICATED THAT THE ENG DRIVEN GENERATOR IDG FOR BOTH ENGS #1 AND #2 HAD ALSO BEEN SVCED EARLIER. I MADE A LOGBOOK ENTRY; NOTIFIED MAINT CTL; AND A MAINT TECHNICIAN CAME TO THE ACFT AND SECURED THE #1 ENG COWLING. I THINK THE POLICY OF NOT HAVING MAINT PERSONNEL DO EXTERIOR INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE RESCINDED AND MAINT TECHNICIANS SHOULD RESUME THEIR EXTERIOR INSPECTION RESPONSIBILITIES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 751801: I MUST HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTR BY SOMEONE ELSE OR SOME OTHER TASK -- FAILED TO LATCH COWLING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 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.