MICHAEL WARD
Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site
Annville, Pennsylvania
As maintenance professionals, we often take risks without thinking of the consequences. Proper tool care and use is part of being a professional. Unfortunately, we don’t always take care of our tools and too often use them improperly. This is my story.
As young Soldiers and mechanics, we don’t often think or plan what we are about to do — let alone the consequences. We just want to please our boss and get the job finished. How many times have we put tools in our tool bags, walked out to the aircraft to do a task and realized we forgot our screwdriver? No worries, I’ll just use my knife! Even better, I’ll use my multi-tool. Who even needs a tool bag? Some of you may remember the knife that used to be part of the toolbox issue. It had two blades, one of which had a convenient flat tip and locking feature. We thought that made a great screwdriver. I eventually learned the importance of using the right tool for the job.
While stationed in South Korea as a squad leader for a maintenance platoon, I was tasked to remove two CH-47D engines in preparation for phase maintenance. As usual, I used the opportunity to provide some maintenance training for my squad. Following the technical manual, prior to raising the engine, I demonstrated the use of the engine aft mount link to slide the lower hat bushing away from the bearing, allowing me to swing the link out of the mount lug. We lifted the engine without incident, then transitioned to the second engine. I allowed my Soldier to prepare the second engine for removal.
The lines were disconnected and the sling attached, but, unfortunately for the Soldier, the bushing wasn’t as easily moved and took some additional persuasion. While using the flat tip blade of a knife, he attempted to pry the bushing. In his frustration, however, his hand slipped and the blade cut his finger. To make matters worse, the battalion command sergeant major was standing right next to me on the ground during the mishap. Let’s just say he wasn’t amused. For me, this incident should have been a lesson learned.
Fast-forward three years, and I’m a technical inspector assisting a flight crew with an aircraft daily in preparation for CH-47D track and balance. I grew up on a farm and always carried a knife. I’d been carrying a three-bladed knife in my pocket for more than 10 years and turned hundreds — if not thousands — of Camloc and Dzus fasteners with the spear tip without incident. This day, however, while unlocking a clamshell door Camloc, the blade folded quickly on my thumb. The crew chief was inside the aircraft, and when I let out my painful yell accompanied by some colorful words, he exited the aircraft. Fortunately for me, he was a recent graduate of the Combat Lifesaver Course, and to my surprise, he had his bag on the aircraft. Although he bandaged my thumb, he could not treat my embarrassment.
My wound has since healed but the memory remains. When I see Soldiers use a knife to open aircraft panels, I don’t mind sharing my story. We tend to take tools for granted and often use them incorrectly because we didn’t plan properly for the task. A knife isn’t to be used as a screwdriver. I was lucky my knife was dull (from lack of care, no less), so my injury was minor. Learn from my mistakes and always use the right tool for the job!