Used to mock the guys who torque every single fastener by hand

Spent 5 years using a calibrated elbow on everything until a crack in a Cessna spar bracket showed up on a 150 hour inspection. Now I pull out the torque wrench for anything structural, even if it takes twice as long. Anyone else make that switch after a close call?

2 comments

2 Comments

bettywood1mo ago

Hated learning that lesson too @cora_scott77, it's a gut punch when you realize your own hands caused the problem. Had a similar moment with a landing light bracket vibrating loose, nothing catastrophic but enough to make me question every fastener I'd ever touched. That grounded bird probably sat for at least a week while I went back through logs and double-checked all my torque values on anything critical. Tbh it's humbling but worth the extra time to know things are right.

cora_scott771mo ago

Took me longer than I care to admit to learn that lesson myself, didn't have a crack but had a bolt back out on a critical mount. How many hours did that bird sit grounded while you went back over everything to check your own work?