Top Five A&P Mechanic Traps

Here are the things you really should not do when maintaining an airplane.

Thursday, September 01, 2022 at 08:23 AM ET

Verified

The mantra for a good tool control program is a place for every tool, every tool in its place.[Courtesy: Georgia Northwestern Technical College]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft mechanics must never make assumptions or rely on memory for critical tasks; always verify information and procedures with current, official documentation.
Strict adherence to tool control protocols is essential, requiring immediate reporting of any missing tools to prevent foreign object debris (FOD).
Mechanics must resist any pressure from owners or managers to compromise safety standards or expedite tasks improperly.
Falsifying aircraft maintenance logs or records is illegal and extremely dangerous, and should never be considered under any circumstances.

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The trend of creating top five lists is all the rage these days. Being ever vigilant to stay current with the times, I did what any modern self-aware man does when he wants to know about popular culture. I asked my wife. Lisa and I were on one of our treks around Lake Peachtree kicking around ideas for my article, and she said, “Why don’t you make a top five list?”

My Generation-X brain did not register top five, but David Letterman’s nightly Top Ten List from the home office in Sioux City, Iowa, thrust forward from my memory like a coiled-up cobra. Maybe I could film a top 10 segment on TikTok and sling the card at the camera, piping in some glass-breaking sound effects! The top 10 most dangerous aircraft engine changes in a war zone sprang from my lips. My wife looked at me with an expression that can only be described as bewilderment.