The unconnected Lift Rate Modifier had gone undetected for many years - it was only when the stick pusher went off that the error was found.....
The real problem was the sticky AOA probe and the fact that aircraft were rarely flown to the limits they once were when airframes were rotated between training and operational use.
Various other horrors were found on other aircraft - mainly down to poor conversion by BWoS, not as a result of routine maintenance. For example, when refuelling from other aircraft, we used to dump the stall protection system to prevent spurious warnings or idents at AAR speeds caused by airflow disturbance. But one VC10K was found to have NEVER had a serviceable stall dump system; the pin in the linkage had never been fitted as corrosion in the locating hole proved only too clearly.
An old BOAC teaspoon was also found floating about in the electrical bay - it had been there throughout the aircraft's entire service with Gulf Air after they bought it from BOAC - and it had then been rebuilt by BWoS for the RAF....
But the A320 accident has yet to be explained. Back now to the thread, I hope!