Bell 206 captain reported finding pitch change link bolt improperly installed during pre-flight.

Attributes
ACN	1649360
Time
Date	201905
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Jet/Long Ranger/206
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Parked
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 5900
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Maintenance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

It was discovered by my relief pilot during his pre-flight that one of the upper pitch change link bolts was installed backwards; with a proper safety. It was installed from outside to inside; instead of inside to outside with the bolt head on the inside to work with centrifugal force. After discussing with maintenance; it does not specify in the maintenance manual which direction to place bolt; but it is good practice for it to be installed from the inside out. Aircraft was taken out of service and bolt was placed in the direction that good practice would dictate.I had not noticed it on my previous pre-flights and I had conducted four part 135 flights with it installed in this alternate position. I did verify on my pre-flights that the pitch change bolts where safety'd but did not recognize that one was installed in an alternate direction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Bell 206 Captain reported finding pitch change link bolt improperly installed during pre-flight.

Narrative: It was discovered by my relief pilot during his pre-flight that one of the upper pitch change link bolts was installed backwards; with a proper safety. It was installed from outside to inside; instead of inside to outside with the bolt head on the inside to work with centrifugal force. After discussing with maintenance; it does not specify in the maintenance manual which direction to place bolt; but it is good practice for it to be installed from the inside out. Aircraft was taken out of service and bolt was placed in the direction that good practice would dictate.I had not noticed it on my previous pre-flights and I had conducted four Part 135 flights with it installed in this alternate position. I did verify on my pre-flights that the pitch change bolts where safety'd but did not recognize that one was installed in an alternate direction.

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.