TIL my 737 pitot static leak check took 6 hours because I skipped one step

I was doing a pitot static system leak check on a 737NG last week. Thought I had everything hooked up right but kept getting a bleed down on the static side. Turns out I forgot to cap the drain port on the altimeter before applying pressure. Wasted about 4 hours chasing my tail before a senior tech walked over and spotted it in 10 seconds. Has anyone else had a simple oversight turn into a half day job on these systems?

2 comments

2 Comments

emmajackson29d ago

Read a post the other day from a guy who spent 8 hours on a static leak check. Forgot to crack a vent line. Same kind of deal. @barbara_butler knows the pain. Those tiny drain caps are easy to miss, especially when you're tired and rushing. Makes you learn to triple check every single connection before you start pulling pressure.

barbara_butler29d ago

Oh man, I used to think skipping a drain cap was no big deal. Then I spent five hours straight on a CRJ static leak check once because I forgot the same thing on the encoder. The senior guy who finally helped me just tapped the cap and said "you owe me a coffee." Now I double check every hose and cap before I even turn the pressure on, learned that lesson the hard way.