A PAX ON A BEECH MODEL 1900 ACR NOTICED THAT THE OIL ACCESS DOOR WAS OPEN ON THE TOP OF THE R ENG JUST PRIOR TO TAXI. WHEN CALLED TO THE FLC'S ATTN; THE ENGS WERE SHUT DOWN AND THE FO DEPLANED THE ACFT AND CLOSED THE DOOR.

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ON A FLT FROM CMH TO RDU; JUST PRIOR TO TAXI; I GLANCED OUT THE R WINDOW OF THE ACFT AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL ACCESS PANEL ON TOP OF THE R ENG WAS UNFASTENED. I LEFT MY SEAT AND WENT FORWARD TO THE COCKPIT; TAPPED THE FO ON THE SHOULDER; AND POINTED OUT THE PROB. THE FLC SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGS; AND THE FO WENT AROUND TO THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT AND SECURED THE OIL ACCESS DOOR. ON REBOARDING THE ACFT; THE FO THANKED ME FOR THE HELP; AND MADE A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PAX EXPLAINING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN WAS THAT 'VIBRATION' HAD MADE THE DOOR POP OPEN. (THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS INADEQUATE PREFLT AND FAILURE TO SECURE THE LATCHES.) THIS WAS A MINOR INCIDENT WITH LITTLE ADVERSE SAFETY POTENTIAL. THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECT TO ME; BECAUSE MY JOB IS IN AVIATION SAFETY; WAS THE DIFFICULTY I EXPERIENCED MAKING MYSELF BRING THE PROB TO THE PLTS' ATTN. I WENT THROUGH A 2 MIN DEBATE WITH MYSELF AFTER THE INITIAL ENG START ABOUT WHETHER TO 'BOTHER' THE FLC. THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING ENG OIL FROM A LOOSE OIL CAP AND HAVING TO SHUT DOWN THE ENG IS WHAT FINALLY GOT ME MOVING. I SHOULD HAVE ACTED SOONER. MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE CRM FOR PAX.