Upon flight arrival at the gate; a Captain and First Officer are notified by Ground Crew that an Oil service access panel was missing on the # 1 engine cowling of their EMB-145; and the Air Starter access panel was hanging down. The Oil access panel; it's hinge and part of the engine cowling skin had been torn away.
Synopsis
Upon flight arrival at the gate; a Captain and First Officer are notified by Ground Crew that an Oil service access panel was missing on the # 1 engine cowling of their EMB-145; and the Air Starter access panel was hanging down. The Oil access panel; it's hinge and part of the engine cowling skin had been torn away.
Narrative
First Officer (FO) performed Walk around on aircraft and found all Inspection panels visually secure. Afterward; entered in Logbook and safety Inspection form all complete. Ramp agent on ground indicated aircraft all secure for pushback. Proceeded to de-icing. No indication from de-icing Crew of any abnormalities or panels not secured. Flew to ZZZ1 uneventfully (no indication of any abnormalities). Once parked at ZZZ1; gate was notified by Ground crew that the panel was missing and another open on Number One engine nacelle. My FO and I proceeded to investigate on ramp and found Oil inspection access panel totally torn off from hinge and the Air Starter valve access panel open with no damage. My FO and I continued to inspect for any damage from departing panel. We noticed possible scrape on left rear Empennage; leading toward APU access panel and also noticed one of four latches on APU panel unlatched; rest (of them) secure. Also noticed an attachment screw to APU panel was popped out; unsecured. Did not see any damage to Control surfaces or other parts of aircraft visually. In my opinion Oil access panel may have popped out in flight from excess pressure within the nacelle itself. Otherwise; how would Oil panel and Air Starter panel both open in flight? But all indications in the Cockpit were normal throughout all ground and flight operations.
Second reporter narrative
Kick-off flight. Performed Walk around and safety Inspection and found no irregularities. Visually checked # 1 engine Oil inspection panel and APU access panel and they were both latched shut from my vantage point. After landing at our destination of ZZZ1; Ground crew advised left engine had a door missing and another open. (Oil) Panel has five latches and appears like it would swing open with gravity if it weren't latched. Also; I noted on Walk around that cargo had been loaded and bag Loader was not pulled up to cargo door; which is why I know doors were latched.
NASA callback
Reporter stated their EMB-145 did experience moderate turbulence flying ZZZ to ZZZ1. Their cruise speed was approximately .72 Mach and he suspects that it was during that flight leg; when the Oil access panel door was torn off. But they never felt or heard anything that indicated the aircraft lost a panel.Reporter stated the Air Starter Access door is situated about the six o'clock position on the # 1 engine lower cowling and the Oil access door is on the inboard side of the same cowling. He doesn't believe either door was opened prior to departure because neither his First Officer; the Baggage Loaders; Ramp Pushback crew or De-icing crew noticed any panel open. Bags are loaded into the Aft cargo pit directly under the # 1 engine. Reporter stated if the Oil access door forward latch was not fully secured; than air could have started getting scooped inside the engine cowling and built up enough excessive internal pressure at cruise speed to possibly blow the Oil door out into the airflow and easily ripped away from the engine. Or the door was torn off and with the opened area of the cowling exposed; the lower Air Starter door was pressurized enough to be forced open. But the Air Starter door is hinged in such a way that the airflow would keep the door closed until probably after the EMB-145 taxied off the runway. He was happy there wasn't any damage to the Horizontal Stabilizer or Elevators or Rudder.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.