Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Human Factors; Aircraft; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Procedure; Manuals; Logbook Entry
On pushback I noticed that the Captain's lap belt had the buckle on the right side - it was normally on the left. Due to pushing back; I chose to continue as the belt functioned properly; but was backwards. After we were airborne we queried Maintenance via ACARS about the lap belt. They said that the part numbers were the same and there was no specificity regarding pilot lap belt applications; so we pressed on. We queried Maintenance and Dispatch a few more times with no change in their response; and also asked if we could get the correct lap belt installed in ORD with no response. Our trip took us to ZZZ for the overnight; and upon arrival we were told that our aircraft would not overnight; but would carry on because another airplane was broken. I informed the new Captain about the lap belt situation and went to the hotel. The following day I was told by that Captain that he had talked to our Maintenance and that Maintenance had told him that the Captain's lap belt was in fact an incorrect part and the aircraft could not fly. This resulted in a lengthy delay extending into the next day; requiring an additional overnight in ZZZ for the crew; and inconveniencing many of our passengers.So many errors were made including the installation of an obviously incorrect part and sign off. This error was not caught for several days as the aircraft flew around the system. Maintenance didn't know what I was talking about and did not bother to clarify their questions. Only when the next Captain asked the right person about the belt did the truth become apparent. I spoke with a Maintenance Controller [a few days ago] about it and he said that they were very busy at the time of my initial ACARS; but that doesn't explain why an incorrect part was installed and allowed to fly around the system for days.
CRJ-200 Captain reported flying with an incorrect seat lap belt part installed.