A LEAR 45 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNDERWING FUELING DOOR UNLATCHED WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR TO DEPART THE ACFT.

Narrative

ON APR/XA/02 AT XA45; WE DEPARTED ZZZ ENRTE TO PWK. 5-10 MINS AFTER DEP WE LEVELED AT 6000 FT AND HEARD A LOUD VIBRATION. WE PULLED THE PWR BACK AND THE VIBRATION WENT AWAY. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE FUEL DOOR HAD COME OPEN. THE OTHER CREW MEMBER MENTIONED MAYBE A WHEEL STILL SPINNING DOWN. WE CONTINUED TO PWK. UPON LNDG; WE FOUND THAT THE FUEL DOOR HAD RIPPED OFF AND PUT A 1 INCH BY 1 INCH HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE PLANE. THE HOLE WAS ABOUT 1/2 INCH DEEP. WE CANCELED THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR TRIP; AND THE COMPANY SENT ANOTHER PLANE FOR US TO USE. MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE LOSS OF THE FUEL DOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND DOOR I HAVE HAD TORN OFF IN 2 WKS. OUR COMPANY HAS LOST AT LEAST 5. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF; BUT THE PEOPLE ON THE GND WHERE THE DOOR LANDS. MY SECOND CONCERN IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN INTERP ON. IS THE AIRPLANE LEGAL TO FLY WITH THE DOOR MISSING AND A HOLE IN THE SIDE? MY DIRECTOR OF OPS AND CHIEF PLT FLEW THE PLANE TO ICT FOR REPAIRS. THE ONLY DOCUMENTATION TO AUTH THIS WAS A LETTER FROM A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE (I ENCLOSED THE LETTER). DOES THIS LETTER MAKE THE PLANE LEGAL? WE HAD AN A&P PUT TAPE OVER THE HOLE AND WHERE THE FUEL DOOR SHOULD BE; PER THE LETTER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS NOW A LEGAL AIRPLANE OR DOES IT REQUIRE A FERRY PERMIT? DOES THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE HAVE THE AUTH TO SAY THE AIRPLANE CAN FLY?