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Latent error in the broken-ladder example

Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice question 9 of 16 on Human Factors. ACS element AM.I.L.K10 · difficulty: standard. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONA technician climbs a ladder known to be broken to perform a repair and falls. In the example given in FAA-H-8083-30B, the broken ladder that someone should have replaced is classified as

  1. Aa latent error.
  2. Ban active error.
  3. Can intentional violation.
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. a latent error.

  • A — correct The handbook defines a latent error as the company issues that lead up to the event, and in its example the latent error is the broken ladder that someone should have replaced.
  • B — incorrect The active error in the handbook's example is the fall from the ladder, the specific individual activity that is an obvious event, not the unreplaced ladder.
  • C — incorrect A violation is a knowing deviation from safe practices by a person; the handbook classifies the unreplaced ladder itself as the latent error underlying the event.

BACKGROUND

The Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook - General (FAA-H-8083-30B) distinguishes active errors from latent errors. An active error is the specific individual activity that is an obvious event, while a latent error is the company issue that leads up to the event. In the handbook's example, a technician climbs a ladder to do a repair knowing the ladder is broken. The active error is falling from the ladder, and the latent error is the broken ladder that someone should have replaced. The handbook makes a parallel distinction between active failures, whose effects are immediate, and latent failures, which result from a decision made long before the incident and may remain dormant for a long time.

STUDY TIP

Sort any scenario into the visible act (active) and the underlying organizational condition that set it up (latent). The person-level act is active; the unresolved condition is latent.

KEY POINTS

  • An active error is the obvious individual act at the time of the event.
  • A latent error is the company condition that led up to the event.
  • In the ladder example, the fall is active and the unreplaced broken ladder is latent.

SOURCES

  • FAA-H-8083-30B ch14 "Active & Latent"
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SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on FAA-H-8083-30B Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General, 14 CFR part 43 and part 65. Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.