CAPT OF A DH8-100 FAILED TO NOTICE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR DURING A POST-LIGHTNING STRIKE INSPECTION. 6 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT; THE CAPT WAS CONTACTED BY THE CHIEF PLT REGARDING THE HOLE IN THE ELEVATOR. THE PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH) PROC EMPHASIZES AND REQUIRES THE CAPT'S SIGNATURE FOR AVIONICS CHKS; ONLY.

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I ACCEPTED AN ACFT FOR A PART 121 REVENUE FLT AFTER THE ACFT HAD EXPERIENCED A LIGHTNING STRIKE. THE POST- LIGHTNING STRIKE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED AS PER OUR ACR'S PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK. ALL AVIONICS OPERATED NORMALLY AND NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND. THE FLT OPERATED NORMALLY FROM ROA TO DCA. I WAS CONTACTED 6 DAYS LATER BY OUR CHIEF PLT CONCERNING THE ACFT. HE STATED THAT MAINT DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE ELEVATOR MEASURING APPROX 1 INCH BY 3 INCHES. HE ASSUMED THAT THE HOLE WAS A RESULT OF THE LIGHTNING STRIKE. I FEEL THAT IT IS UNREASONABLE AND UNSAFE FOR OUR COMPANY TO HAVE A PROC THAT DOES NOT NECESSITATE A POSTFLT INSPECTION BY QUALIFIED MAINT PERSONNEL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CURRENT POST- LIGHTNING STRIKE INSPECTION IN THE ACR'S PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK STATES THAT THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF DAMAGE THAT CAN RESULT FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE -- DAMAGE FROM THE STRIKE ITSELF; AND DAMAGE FROM THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY. SOME OF THE REQUIRED CHKS ARE AHRS; STANDBY AHRS; VHF COMS AND NAVS; EFIS DISPLAYS; ALTIMETERS; MAGNETIC COMPASS; AND RADAR. NOWHERE IN THE PROC IS ANY SPECIFIC REF MADE TO STRUCTURAL CHKS. RPTR STATES THAT POSSIBLE LIGHTNING DAMAGE SHOULD REQUIRE CONTRACT OR COMPANY MAINT INSPECTION. AT MINIMUM; THE PROC SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF ADDRESSING CHKS FOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE COMPANY MECHS HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A 'TASK CARD' FOR ACFT ON POST-LIGHTNING STRIKE INSPECTION. THE CAPT WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND USE THE TASK CARD; IF HE IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO THE INSPECTION. RPTR WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEG OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE THAT COULD OCCUR FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE. BUT; THE PLT WHO LATER RECEIVED THE ACFT FROM HIM WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT LIGHTNING STRIKE DAMAGE AND STILL FAILED TO CATCH THE TAIL DAMAGE. THE RPTR DID PERFORM A WALK AROUND AND DID LOOK UP AT THE TAIL; BUT STATES THAT IT WAS RAINING AT THE TIME; AND THE TAIL IS APPROX 30 FT HIGH.