Caught myself doing pitot-static checks wrong for like a year

I was over at Atlantic Aviation in Kansas City last week and a senior tech asked me why I was skipping the static port leak test on the 737NG. Turns out I had been reading the manual wrong the whole time - I thought you only did the pitot side unless there was a snag. Now I double check every step before I start. Has anyone else had that moment where a routine check turned out you were cutting corners without realizing it?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella_foster25d ago

Close, but the CRJ static test actually still requires checking for leaks unless you're doing a specific quick check that the manual allows. I ran into the same confusion until a lead mechanic pointed out the fine print in the maintenance manual section. It's easy to assume one test covers everything when you're in a hurry, but the manual is pretty clear that pitot and static are separate systems that need their own checks. Good on you for double checking now though, that's the right move. Better to catch it now than when it causes a bigger headache down the line.

fiona_reed25d ago

Guilty as charged, I did the SAME thing with the CRJ static test for almost a year.

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