Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Workload; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Aircraft
I and another mechanic were performing routine maintenance on base. After performing various inspection items; I was replacing #2 engine input seal when he asked if I would check over an inspection area he was completing; so he could reinstall the access panel. I stopped the work on the input seal and crawled under the aircraft to verify his work; I visually verified [his] work and began to reinstall the panel; when he said he would get the panel; I said okay because I wanted to get back to the engine work. There was a lack of communication and complacency to verbally verify that one of us was going to finish the panel installation. Then it was the distractions of finishing the other items and to get the aircraft back in service it was overlooked. This was an incident that should have never happened. I was distracted about finishing what I was working on; if I would have just taken a couple minutes to finish the panel install none of this would have happened.One way to avoid this kind of mistake is to communicate more; ask if the panel was secured. And we should always have someone else like the Pilot look over every area; where we had access panels opened to verify that they are installed and secured.
The reporter stated that he neglected to complete the installation of the panel. Because the installation was not complete; the panel got bent in flight. The reporter stated that there was no damage to the aircraft; only to the panel. The reporter stated the panel was located on the underside of the aircraft.
While performing maintenance on an EC135 T2 Helicopter the Mechanic neglected to secure a panel in the lower half of the fuselage.