First time I did a full pitot-static test and nearly flunked it

I was testing a Cessna 172 at a small shop near Phoenix last month. Got through the altimeter checks fine but the vertical speed indicator was reading way off. Spent 45 minutes checking for leaks before realizing I left the test set valve cracked open a quarter turn. My lead tech walked over and pointed it out in about 10 seconds. Felt like an idiot but learned to double check all fittings before starting. Has anyone else had a simple mistake waste their time on a system test?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_wells9h ago

Isn't that always how it goes - the last thing you check is the obvious one?

dakota_singh399h ago

Reckon you got it backwards honestly. The obvious things get checked first because they're right there in front of you. It's the hidden stuff that takes forever to find. I've seen people waste hours tearing apart a system only to realize they skipped the simple stuff because they assumed it couldn't be that easy. Most times when something breaks it's hiding behind a bigger problem you gotta dig for.