What was found
DURING A ROUTINE PHASE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LT ELEVATOR PIVOT PIN ON THE TORQUE TUBE ASSEMBLY PN 27-44026-007 WAS SHEARED. INITIAL INSPECTION REVEALED CORROSION/RUST AND EXTENSIVE PITTING IN THE PIN. THIS PIN IS (1) OF (3) IN A LINEAR LINE ATTACHING THE ELEVATOR TO THE AIRCRAFT STABILIZER. THIS AIRCRAFT IS NORMALLY LOCATED OUTSIDE EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER ELEMENTS NEAR SALT AIR/RAIN. THIS PART ALSO REVEALED A CORRODED VTA BEARING PN VTA04270. A VISUAL GVI IN THE SUSPECT AREA CAN EASILY INDICATE A PROBLEM FOR CORROSION. RECOMMENDATION: (1) GVI OF TORQUE TUBE ASSEMBLY IF THE AIRCRAFT IS STORED EXPOSED TO SALT AIR OR RAIN ON A ROUTINE BASIS. (2) GVI OF THE VTA BEARING. IPC 27-30-10 FIG 1 ITEM 8 AND ITEM 10.