B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; MEL; Logbook Entry; Human Factors; Chart Or Publication; Aircraft
As I was reviewing the logbook for a B737-800 aircraft; the First Officer returned to the cockpit from his walk around. He mentioned he saw speed tape along the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer. I noted that we only had a placard form for the speed tape in the right wheel well [for the] vapor barrier. I began a review of the aircraft damage log history. The first entry was for the damage to the right stabilizer in January 2011. The entry referenced that speed tape was applied to damaged area. No mention of follow-on inspection requirements. I called [our] B737 Technical support. After asking Technical support to pull-up the aircraft damage history items; I asked; if speed tape was applied; should there not be a logbook placard form in the logbook. Technician said he was going to have to enter a discrepancy item. I gave my cell phone over to the ZZZ Mechanic that was now present so he could get the item entered per Technical support. I insisted that since the item was originally addressed on January 2011 without any follow-up inspection; that we should at least re-inspect the condition of the Temporary Repair (TR). This aircraft flew over 16-months without any follow-up inspection to a Temporary Repair using speed tape. The logbook may not have been properly filled out at ZZZ1; where the original damage repair was made.
A Captain was informed by his First Officer that he saw speed tape along the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer during his walk around. The B737-800 aircraft had flown for 16-months without any follow-up inspection to a Temporary Repair (TR) using speed tape.