An A320 crew discovered the horizontal stabilizer trim location marking missing.

Attributes
ACN	671358
Time
Date	200509
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	671358
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

On flight XXX from bos on sep/tue/05; we discovered that the horizontal stabilizer trim mark on the horizontal stabilizer was missing. The fuselage marking located on the left exterior fuselage was there but not the one on the horizontal stabilizer. We were amazed on how long it took us to get a simple deferral or even a configuration deviation to continue. We had 2 other references for this verification that the trim had reset in the cockpit. We were also curious how long ago this airplane got painted. Why didn't the person who did the quality assurance find the error at the paint shop? For that matter; how many crews missed it? This simple mistake cost us 1 hour delay and subjected our passenger to sitting on our airplane and possibly missing their connections.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CREW DISCOVERED THE HORIZ STABILIZER TRIM LOCATION MARKING MISSING.

Narrative: ON FLT XXX FROM BOS ON SEP/TUE/05; WE DISCOVERED THAT THE HORIZ STABILIZER TRIM MARK ON THE HORIZ STABILIZER WAS MISSING. THE FUSELAGE MARKING LOCATED ON THE L EXTERIOR FUSELAGE WAS THERE BUT NOT THE ONE ON THE HORIZ STABILIZER. WE WERE AMAZED ON HOW LONG IT TOOK US TO GET A SIMPLE DEFERRAL OR EVEN A CONFIGURATION DEVIATION TO CONTINUE. WE HAD 2 OTHER REFS FOR THIS VERIFICATION THAT THE TRIM HAD RESET IN THE COCKPIT. WE WERE ALSO CURIOUS HOW LONG AGO THIS AIRPLANE GOT PAINTED. WHY DIDN'T THE PERSON WHO DID THE QUALITY ASSURANCE FIND THE ERROR AT THE PAINT SHOP? FOR THAT MATTER; HOW MANY CREWS MISSED IT? THIS SIMPLE MISTAKE COST US 1 HR DELAY AND SUBJECTED OUR PAX TO SITTING ON OUR AIRPLANE AND POSSIBLY MISSING THEIR CONNECTIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.