MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
I woke to find a text message from [a] First Officer to check my company e-mail for a message from the Duty Officer concerning a missing panel on our aircraft: a reminder that FOM Section 2.15 requires that you fill out and submit a safety report due to the circumstances you experienced on Flight XX. On postflight inspection; the MD-11 was found to be missing a panel from the upper right wing outboard of the spoilers; approximately 72' inches X 18' inches.The aforementioned flight was uneventful throughout. We accomplished all required checklists and preflight/post-flight duties without finding any discrepancies to report to Maintenance or Flight Operations. We did use the CPDLC Service and made the required entry for it. I also do not recall any issues in the maintenance history on this aircraft that would cause me; as the Captain; to instruct greater scrutiny in this area during pre-flight. We did experience the usual light chop and light turbulence en route; but there were no areas greater than that. After landing; I did my usual post flight inspection which involves viewing both left and right sides of the aircraft from the nose area and did not see any leaks or defects to report at that time. I do not know what additional checking I could do as a crewmember to ensure this from occurring again until a cause is determined. However; in the interim; I will be more vigilant about potential loose panels and relay this experience to my crews in the future; so that; they too may use this as a learning experience.
A Captain was informed that a right wing upper access panel; outboard of the spoilers; was missing from their MD-11 aircraft without any discrepancy noted in their pre-flight or post flight walk-around checks.