Originally Posted by
MarcK
Stuck bits are more likely an optical encoder error in the AOA vane, not a software error.
Wow! You have just reminded me of something that caused us a great deal of trouble, on a completely different different piece of equipment. Our electric gate motor closing mechanism used to give problems, due to contamination of the digital encoding optical sensor (a glorified rotary counter).
I know the AOA is completely different sensor, but in the context of this thread that might consistently produce a consistent bit-flip (20 degrees) error.
Originally Posted by
Maninthebar
How likely is that in two different aircraft (or maybe more if we take into account NASA reports)? Is that a possible QC issue at manufacture?
(I realise that I have jumped to more conclusions than a champion pole vaulter)
Possible QC error that only reveals after a few months service?
In our case it was it was an oil leak from the bearing that got onto/contaminated the optical sensor.