Talking to a 747 pilot in the break room changed how I look at torque specs

I was grabbing coffee during my night shift and this retired cargo pilot sits down next to me. He sees I got a torque wrench in my bag and starts laughing. I asked what's funny and he goes 'you guys are the only reason those numbers mean anything'. He told me a story about a flight engineer he knew who ignored a split pin once because it was 'close enough'. That plane never crashed but it had a hydraulic leak at 35,000 feet. It hit different hearing it from someone who actually flew the stuff we turn wrenches on. Has anyone else had a conversation with a pilot that made you double check your work?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_palmer201mo ago

Why do people act like torque specs are just suggestions? That split pin story is exactly the kind of thing that keeps me up at night. Numbers exist for a reason, and shortcuts aren't worth the risk.

grantadams26d ago

Sure, and I've definitely never overtightened a bolt so bad I had to get the angle grinder.

william_carter1mo ago

Read a piece the other day from an old machinist who said he'd rather strip a bolt than leave it loose. Said splitting hairs over five foot-pounds could mean the difference between a part that holds and one that lets go at the worst possible time. Kinda stuck with me, honestly.