Plain English Meaning

Tiny pits or holes eaten into a metal surface, leaving it rough and pockmarked instead of smooth.

Full Definition

Localized surface damage on a metal component characterized by small cavities or pockmarks, typically caused by corrosion, electrical arcing, or pre-ignition events such as detonation. In an engine context, pitting commonly appears on piston crowns, valve faces, cylinder walls, or spark plug electrodes as evidence of abnormal combustion or material degradation.

Context Anchor

Seen during preflight inspection and maintenance discussions, especially when checking propeller blades and exposed engine parts for surface damage.