A method and apparatus for assessing damage to machine components is provided. The method includes calculating an expected parameter value based on a first parameter value indicator, calculating an estimate of an actual parameter value based on a second parameter value indicator, the second parameter value indicator being different than the first parameter value indicator, determining if the calculated expected parameter value is different than the calculated estimate of the actual parameter value by a predefined limit, and generating a damage flag based on a result of the comparison. The apparatus includes a computing device including a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor programmed to execute a software product code segment that includes a detection boundary module, an estimator, and a comparator wherein the computing device is programmed to assess damage within an engine.