B767-300 flight crew is informed by passengers in cruise that part of the left wing near the engine ...

Attributes
ACN	999334
Time
Date	201203
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Component
Aircraft Component	Wing Skin
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 230 Flight Crew Total 13700 Flight Crew Type 6100
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Relief Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 6500
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

About 30 minutes into the flight the relief pilot came to the cockpit to advise there was a section of a panel on the left wing that was sticking up in the wind stream. A passenger noticed it first. The captain called dispatch and then had maintenance control and the duty manager on the line (satcom). It was agreed by all parties that the safest action would be to divert. There was a concern that the piece might depart the aircraft and hit the tail. The diversion was coordinated with dispatch and the duty manager. We agreed on landing overweight at 345;000 pounds landing performance was received for dispatch for landing. An emergency was not declared. The flight landed normally and the fire department followed the aircraft to the gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767-300 flight crew is informed by passengers in cruise that part of the left wing near the engine was sticking up into the slip stream in an abnormal fashion. After discussion with Maintenance the crew diverts to a suitable airport. Upon being viewed by Maintenance on the ground the aircraft is taken out of service.

Narrative: About 30 minutes into the flight the relief pilot came to the cockpit to advise there was a section of a panel on the left wing that was sticking up in the wind stream. A passenger noticed it first. The Captain called Dispatch and then had Maintenance Control and the Duty Manager on the line (SATCOM). It was agreed by all parties that the safest action would be to divert. There was a concern that the piece might depart the aircraft and hit the tail. The diversion was coordinated with Dispatch and the Duty Manager. We agreed on landing overweight at 345;000 LBS landing performance was received for Dispatch for landing. An emergency was not declared. The flight landed normally and the Fire Department followed the aircraft to the gate.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.