Preflight fails to observe aileron trim rod not connected.

Attributes
ACN	295585
Time
Date	199501
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : k81
State Reference	KS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 12
ASRS Report	295585
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Aircraft was preflted and runup. Normal VFR departure from K81. During cruise flight, it was noted that aircraft had a slight tendency to turn left. Aileron trim was adjusted with some results. Visual check was made and right aileron trim tab was not reacting to aileron trim adjustment. Flight was continued to airport with normal capability, where it was landed. At no time during the flight was there any unusual or abnormal control forces encountered. Upon inspection after landing, it was noted that aileron trim tab control rod attach bolt was missing. (Note: aircraft had just been painted and controls had been removed, balanced and reinstalled. Maintenance personnel were notified).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PREFLT FAILS TO OBSERVE AILERON TRIM ROD NOT CONNECTED.

Narrative: ACFT WAS PREFLTED AND RUNUP. NORMAL VFR DEP FROM K81. DURING CRUISE FLT, IT WAS NOTED THAT ACFT HAD A SLIGHT TENDENCY TO TURN L. AILERON TRIM WAS ADJUSTED WITH SOME RESULTS. VISUAL CHK WAS MADE AND R AILERON TRIM TAB WAS NOT REACTING TO AILERON TRIM ADJUSTMENT. FLT WAS CONTINUED TO ARPT WITH NORMAL CAPABILITY, WHERE IT WAS LANDED. AT NO TIME DURING THE FLT WAS THERE ANY UNUSUAL OR ABNORMAL CTL FORCES ENCOUNTERED. UPON INSPECTION AFTER LNDG, IT WAS NOTED THAT AILERON TRIM TAB CTL ROD ATTACH BOLT WAS MISSING. (NOTE: ACFT HAD JUST BEEN PAINTED AND CTLS HAD BEEN REMOVED, BALANCED AND REINSTALLED. MAINT PERSONNEL WERE NOTIFIED).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.