Narrative:

During his exterior preflight inspection; the first officer discovered that the bolt in the right aileron control rod was installed backwards. He stated to me that he was generally aware of this item because of a recent article he had read in an airline safety-oriented publication (he could not remember which one). We reported the item to line maintenance (ACARS and voice); and our mechanic confirmed that the bolt was in fact installed backwards; and that this was a 'safety of flight item.' he stated that; as installed; the bolt could more easily become detached; causing probable loss of aircraft control. The item was corrected and the flight departed 22 mins late.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 HAD A BOLT IN THE R AILERON CTL ROD INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. BOLT REMOVED AND INSTALLED CORRECTLY.

Narrative: DURING HIS EXTERIOR PREFLT INSPECTION; THE FO DISCOVERED THAT THE BOLT IN THE R AILERON CTL ROD WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. HE STATED TO ME THAT HE WAS GENERALLY AWARE OF THIS ITEM BECAUSE OF A RECENT ARTICLE HE HAD READ IN AN AIRLINE SAFETY-ORIENTED PUB (HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHICH ONE). WE RPTED THE ITEM TO LINE MAINT (ACARS AND VOICE); AND OUR MECH CONFIRMED THAT THE BOLT WAS IN FACT INSTALLED BACKWARDS; AND THAT THIS WAS A 'SAFETY OF FLT ITEM.' HE STATED THAT; AS INSTALLED; THE BOLT COULD MORE EASILY BECOME DETACHED; CAUSING PROBABLE LOSS OF ACFT CTL. THE ITEM WAS CORRECTED AND THE FLT DEPARTED 22 MINS LATE.

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.