Over the years I have come across some terms that were the perfect description.

One is called normalizing deviation. That was derived form the first shuttle disaster. You do something that is not supposed to be done, nothing happens. You keep repeating it. At some point something lets go or you push it another step and it lets go (O rings, cold temps, then colder temps and booom)


The other I just came across is a low probability event, but when it occurs, there are extreme consequences.

Snap acting is another term.

Something to keep in mind.