B737-700
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 448
Time Pressure; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Aircraft
Approximately 10 minutes before scheduled push time; Ramp Personnel informed the Captain that they found a loose screw. The Captain went down to inspect and found the forward screw on the left aircraft access panel hanging down and not properly secured. The Captain asked if anyone on the ramp had a screw driver but none were available. The Captain then called Dispatch and got a phone patch to Maintenance Control. Maintenance Control advised there was a Maintenance staff in at location and that he should come and secure the screw. The Captain then asked Ops to call the Maintenance person to secure the screw and Ops replied that there was only Contract Maintenance. The Captain then informed Ops that Maintenance Control advised that Company Maintenance should be available. Ops called around and found that there was one Maintenance person assigned but not currently available; but that a screwdriver was being brought out. The Captain was on the ramp when an Operations person showed up with a screwdriver. The Captain secured the loose screw to save a Contract Maintenance call and avoid a significant delay for one little screw. It was not in accordance with Company policies and procedures. The Captain did have some recent experience with securing a fueling access panel that the local Fueler could not secure and was biased by that event; because in that case the Maintenance Control was advised of the Captain securing the refueling panel; and was happy that it was secure. The difference was that it was a push-button latch instead of a screw. After departing for the next station; the Captain reflected on the act he performed and considered that he was passing the aircraft on to another Captain for flight; decided to have Maintenance meet him at the aircraft upon arrival. The Captain advised the new Captain taking the aircraft of his actions; then waited for Maintenance and showed the Maintenance person the screw that he had secured at the previous station. The Maintainer opened and then secured the same screw.The procedures are in place for Captains not to make this mistake. The recent experience of this Captain biased his decision along with an overzealous desire to keep the operation on time. If the Captain had properly followed up with a call to [Maintenance Control] and advised them of the action; he would have been corrected on his error.
B737 Captain reported difficulty securing a screw on an aircraft access panel.