Hi John,

I thought about this some more.  Remember all your EC-2 problems?  Heavy
arching like this on ground is just the sort of thing that kills off
sensitive electronics.  

I'd put a volt meter between that hose, and a good aircraft ground, and
watch it while cranking the engine, just to be sure it doesn't still want to
be your engine ground.  An ohm meter reading from the hose to ground would
work as well, but not as directly.  

Cheers,
Rusty (Kolbs breeding like rabbits)