Rant: A line check in Phoenix showed me why you never trust the 'no fault found' log entry

I was doing a post flight on a G650 last month, and the log said 'IFS flicker, NFF' from the last crew. Instead of just clearing it, I pulled the overhead panel and found a loose BNC connector on the video distribution box, maybe a quarter turn from seated. The first guy just reset the system and moved on. Now I physically check every connector on that bus before I sign off any intermittent video issue. How many of you have been burned by a lazy NFF write up?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylanbarnes2mo ago

The real cost is in the hidden repeat visits. That loose BNC probably caused five more squawks before you found it, burning crew time and delaying departures. It turns a ten minute fix into a half day of chasing ghosts for the next guy. That log entry basically just passed the problem down the line instead of solving it.

abby_palmer2mo ago

My buddy's a mechanic and he says chasing those intermittent faults is the worst part of his week.