Air Test first....then heavy hover?
Perhaps it is my improving grasp of my own mortality....but would it not be more prudent to do the hover check prior to the air test in sequence. Cast iron failures at a hover would seem to be the more advantagous situation for such things to occur.
If a tranny is left setting without any attempt at preservation per recommended pickling practices....would not there be some concern for the integrity of the gearbox?
If the gearbox was in a climate controlled environment and secured properly from moisture....perhaps it would not be such a concern. Shoved over into a corner of the hangar while the reconstruction work was on-going for a period of six months....is another thing in my view.
Was someone trying to do this repair on the cheap at the expense of good sound engineering practices?