Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Human Factors; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Aircraft; Procedure
One of our tow pilots noticed the RH elevator was bent down outboard of the outer hinge approximately 5 degrees during preflight. We had our maintenance vendor troubleshoot the defect. It was determined that the incorrect elevator was installed. The elevator installed was for a 150 hp PA-25 and has a lighter spar. The elevator had been installed some time ago. The two different types of elevators are almost identical and hard to tell apart.
The pilot of a PA25 glider tow aircraft noticed damage to the elevator. It was later determined that the incorrect part was installed on the aircraft.