Troubleshooting Aircraft Systems

We have all run into problems as an aircraft mechanic than tends to stress us out. Aircraft system can be complex in nature and utilize multiple subsystems within the component. The first place we always go is the aircraft maintenance manuals or documentation. This is a great place to start. If you are unfamiliar with the system as a whole, the theory of operations normally found in the beginning of the chapter can offer some insight as to how complex the system really is. This is normally where I go when I need to learn about the aircraft. Wiring diagrams can also be a great help in troubleshooting electrical problems. These aircraft schematics can however be tough to read at times because they have lots of symbols and letters. It normally takes me a few minutes to get oriented to the drawing.  Finding the various components within the aircraft can also be challenging. There is no easy fix for this.Some aircraft vary from model to model because of the places items with installed during modifications. The general area are normally close though.

Many aircraft have multiple systems that do the same thing. This is called redundancy. If this is the case, you can often times swap parts from number one side to the number two and see if the problem follows. This is vary common in troubleshooting aircraft systems. The troubleshooting guide for aircraft may or may not help much. Often times we see the troubleshooting guide has every problem but the one your working on. I'm not sure who writes those charts, but I have a feeling it is not a mechanic in the real world.

Troubleshooting an aircraft successfully takes time. This is a skill that takes years to build Aircraft are complex systems using hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical both AC and DC. Just remember to go slow and follow the manufacturers recommendation when tearing into something.