Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure
A Chiller Access Panel came loose and became a flying projectile in the flight deck during landing rollout and braking.  After striking the aft portion of the center instrument pedestal; (in the area of the parking brake location); the panel came to rest on the floor at the base of the center pedestal.  The panel narrowly missed striking and likely severely injuring one or both of us while during a critical phase of flight.   Furthermore; had the door hit the parking brake handle at the right spot it could have set the parking brake at a speed of approximately 140 KTS.  The panel has sharp edges and enough mass that it would have most likely caused very severe injuries to a primary jumpseat occupant; had there been one.   No indications of the panel being loose or unsecured were observed by myself or the First Officer during the accomplishment of the safety and power on inspection.  The landing touchdown was soft and braking was normal.  The First Officer and I inspected the Forward Chiller Access Compartment after the flight and neither of us found any obvious abnormalities or suspicious objects within the area of the compartment we could observe.
A321 Captain reports a galley access panel coming loose in the cockpit during landing and becoming a projectile.