What was found
UPON LANDING, STUDENT FOUND LH ELEVATOR DISCONNECTED FROM HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AT THE OUTBOARD HINGE. THE BOLT HAD WORKED ITS WAY OUT OF THE NUT PLATE AND FELL OFF INTO THE ELEVATOR TIP FAIRING. UPON DISASSEMBLY, FOUND BOLT AND WASHER IN THE FAIRING WITH NO EXCESS WEAR NOTED. ATTEMPTED TO THREAD IT BACK INTO THE NUT PLATE AND CONFIRMED SUSPICION THAT THE NUT PLATE HAD NO FRICTION LEFT. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BOTH WITH THE ORIGINAL BOLT AND A BRAND NEW AN3-7A BOLT. IT WOULD SEEM WISE TO REPLACE THE NUT PLATE WITH A CASTELLATED NUT AND COTTER PIN, AS IS USED ON THE NEWER MODELS.