Date: 201603
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Fatigue; Time Pressure; Workload
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Maintenance
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: One morning a mechanic and I were assigned to work on the last aircraft of the night. Once our plane arrived we did a couple of other tasks on our aircraft and then went to lunch. After lunch the mechanic and I began preparing to work on an 800 hour lubrication job. We were approached by our supervisor to see how far we were along and I told her we had just began. She then let me know that our aircraft was the first for departure. In order to help the process move along I removed the access panels in order for the mechanic to lubricate both gears as while he got all of our tools required ready and began the lubrication. While lubricating the left gear I believe someone mentioned to the mechanic that we had nose gear tires to change and that we should go ahead and lubricate the nose gear so that the tire change could be performed. So he did. Once we moved back to I was asked to help another mechanic close a cowling because I remember the mechanic I was working with hitting his back on the bottom of the aircraft while I was on the lift and asking was he doing okay. After I was off of the lift from helping the mechanic I checked on the other jobs of the Flight Operations Manual (FOM) and radio license to see if we had access to the area and we did not; due to training being done. After that I asked my partner if he was finished with the left hand main gear lubrication he said we were good because he seemed to be finishing up the right he informed that we just had to re-secure the right hand over-wing panel. My supervisor came over to ask what we had left to do and I let her know just the right hand over wing panel. After the mechanic re-secured the over-wing panel we signed off paperwork and were still waiting for the training to be done for replacement of FOM and radio license. I asked could I access the area because they were the last two jobs not completed and was told trainers just needed ten more minutes. Another mechanic replaced the radio license while I replaced the FOM after training was done due to having to have the plane out for leak check and departure. My partner and I then helped another mechanic with leak check and closing of cowlings before the plane was taxied to the gate.I was called by my supervisor and was told a panel was missing as well as another had been found off of the aircraft and that the aircraft was AOG (Aircraft on Ground). I then remembered that my partner and I did not double check and make sure the panels were re-secured.In between helping out on other jobs and my partner trying to move quickly and get the plane out on time he and I didn't double check and make sure the wheel bin access panels were totally re-secured. I was distracted by other tasks and tired and my partner may have been flustered by having to hurry up and finish the task and when I asked if were we good I assumed he had completed the task in full including securing all panels associated with the task.According to our supervisor the panel found was installed and the other has been ordered to replace the missing panel.Avoiding distractions in the middle of tasks. Double checking work performed and taking your time while completing tasks.




Synopsis: In their haste; two mechanics neglected to secure two panels that were removed to accomplish main gear lubrication job cards.