Which of the following is a valid example of a discrepancy symptom?

• A. Discoloration at a terminal
• B. Blue color of the aircraft
• C. Elapsed flight time since last maintenance
• D. Ambient temperature

Answer: (A)

Discrepancy symptoms are observable signs that something isn’t within normal limits and could indicate a fault, prompting further investigation. Discoloration at a terminal fits this because it shows an abnormal condition at an electrical connection—potential overheating, arcing, corrosion, or insulation damage—that could affect electrical integrity. The other options describe things that aren’t fault indicators: the aircraft’s blue color is cosmetic, elapsed flight time since last maintenance is a scheduling data point, and ambient temperature is an environmental condition. So discoloration at a terminal is the valid example of a discrepancy symptom.