C172 pilot reported that a plastic elevator fairing separated from the aircraft during flight.

Attributes
ACN	1707138
Time
Date	201912
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 42 Flight Crew Total 825 Flight Crew Type 402
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

Upon post flight inspection of a re position flight of a C172 for an annual inspection the side plastic covering of the left hand side of the elevator was found missing. No parts found on the ground therefore assumed to have come off enroute due to heavy turbulence. Aircraft flew normally and did not noticeably affect safety of flight. Turbulence could be described as moderate to severe. No injuries. Would not describe this as a malfunction say to flight controls however it is related. No structural damage found.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 pilot reported that a plastic elevator fairing separated from the aircraft during flight.

Narrative: Upon post flight inspection of a re position flight of a C172 for an annual inspection the side plastic covering of the left hand side of the elevator was found missing. No parts found on the ground therefore assumed to have come off enroute due to heavy turbulence. Aircraft flew normally and did not noticeably affect safety of flight. Turbulence could be described as moderate to severe. No injuries. Would not describe this as a malfunction say to flight controls however it is related. No structural damage found.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.