Warning: a pilot's offhand comment about static completely changed how I check antennas

I was doing a post-flight check on a Cessna 172 last week and the pilot mentioned he'd been getting some weird static bursts on comm 2 during climb out. He said it was 'like someone keying the mic for a split second, but nobody was there.' I was ready to just swap the radio, but then he added, 'It only happens above 3,000 feet when it's dry out.' That made me stop. I spent an hour checking the bonding straps on the VHF antenna mount instead. Found one behind the baggage area that looked tight but was actually just making contact on one side of the washer. Cleaned it up, put on a new star washer, and torqued it to spec. The pilot flew it yesterday and said the issue is gone. It hit different because I almost wasted time and money on a part that wasn't broken. How often do you guys actually get useful troubleshooting hints from the flight crew?

2 comments

2 Comments

mia_singh243d ago

My last shop had a formal pilot report system. Maybe one in twenty write-ups gave a real clue like that. Most just say "comm 2 broken." You got lucky with a pilot who actually paid attention.

miles2773d ago

Read an article once where a mechanic said the best write-up he ever got was "autopilot makes the plane smell like burnt toast." Took weeks to find a short behind the panel. Most pilots just don't have the words for what they're hearing or feeling. They know something's wrong, but translating that into a useful note is a real skill. Your one in twenty number sounds about right for useful info.