lilya76•13d agoProlific Poster

Vent: Used to chase every tiny rattle on my inspections until I wasted 3 hours on a Cessna 172

Back when I started 5 years ago I'd tear apart panels for sounds that were just loose change in a seat pocket. Now if it's not vibrating at cruise or on the logbook I leave it be. Anyone else learn to pick your battles the hard way?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenixw1113d ago

Read somewhere that experienced mechanics say the first 100 hours of troubleshooting are just learning what noises matter lol. Three hours on a 172 sounds brutal though, especially when you find out it was something dumb like a loose penny. At least you know for next time that the plane will tell you loud and clear when something is actually broken.

ray35613d ago

Man, I feel that one deep in my bones! I wasted a whole Saturday once chasing a squeak that turned out to be a loose pen cap rattling around behind the instrument panel. It's one of those lessons you gotta learn the hard way I guess, but it still stings when you think about the time you could've spent on actual problems. The worst part is feeling like a fool when you finally pop that panel and find something ridiculous. Your 172 story makes me feel a little better about my own dumb moments honestly. The plane really does let you know when something serious is up, you just have to trust it more and your own anxiety less.

wood.eric12d agoMost Upvoted

That pen cap story honestly makes me feel a whole lot better about my own dumb moments.