IMPROPER COMPLETION OF MAINT PRIOR TO RETURNING ACFT TO SVC AFTER MAINT ACTION CHK AT ORD.

Narrative

WAS PARKED AT THE CARGO RAMP AT O'HARE. I WAS CONDUCTING A LINE CHK FOR A RECENTLY TYPE RATED CAPT CANDIDATE; WITH OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OPS INSPECTOR (POI) ONBOARD TO SIGN THIS PERSON OFF. SHORTLY AFTER WE BLOCKED IN; OUR EVER VIGILANT MECH STEPPED ONTO THE FLT DECK AND ANNOUNCED THAT THE L NAV LIGHT ACCESS PANEL WAS LOOSE AND MISSING SEVERAL SCREWS. MR X SAID HE HAD TIGHTENED THE REMAINING SCREWS AND THE AIRPLANE SHOULD BE OK TO FLY FROM ORD TO MKE. AT THIS TIME I WENT OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT THE PANEL; AND TELEPHONED OUR MAINT CTL PEOPLE. WHILE I WAS TALKING TO THEM; BORROWED SEVERAL SCREWS AND INSTALLED THEM IN THE PANEL. THE MAINT CTLR I WAS SPEAKING WITH SAID THE ACFT WAS GOOD TO GO ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES IN THE GENERAL MAINT MANUAL; WHICH WE AS PLTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO. THE MISSING SCREWS WERE PUT ON A SHORT TERM/NON-MEL DEFERRAL. THUS NO AMENDMENT TO THE FLT RELEASE WAS REQUIRED. WE CONTINUED TO MKE; AT WHICH TIME OUR ASSISTANT POI WANTED THE ABOVE INFO. LIFE WOULD BE BETTER; AND SCHEDULES EASIER TO MAINTAIN IF MAINT WOULD HAVE FOUND; THEN REPLACED THE MISSING SCREWS BEFORE LEAVING IND.