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As the cotter pin began to yield to the technician's efforts, an unforeseen consequence arose. In the heat of the moment, the technician underestimated the amount of force required to dislodge the pin completely. With a sudden and unexpected release of tension, the cotter pin broke free from its moorings, propelled by the force exerted by the technician.

Don't Assume Anything

It was a typical early summer day at Abu Hammad Air Base, Egypt, located in the Nile Delta northeast of Cairo. I was assigned as an AH-64A maintenance test pilot (MTP) and adviser to the Apache Technical Assistance Field Team. Despite the challenges of English as a second language for my Egyptian counterparts, I thought I had a good handle on how the local pilots expressed themselves. I was wrong.

  • 16 July 2025
  • Comments: 0
When Cutting Corners Becomes the Norm

The true danger of normalizing deviance lies in its subtlety. Initially, deviations might seem minor and inconsequential. Examples include skipping a procedural step due to a time crunch, deferring a minor maintenance procedure because "it's never caused a problem before" or bending the rules on driver training due to competing priorities.

  • 6 July 2025
  • Comments: 0
Rested and Ready

It was a routine mission taking personnel to a camp about 45 minutes away and then returning. Everyone was in good spirits, but after a while, we ran out of things to talk about.

  • 15 June 2025
  • Author: USACRC Editor
  • Number of views: 260
  • Comments: 0
Too Close for Comfort

As time goes on, our comfort and confidence with our aircraft inevitably grows, and what used to take intense concentration becomes simple. We all strive to become exceptional pilots, and it is easy for us to fall prey to the vanity of demonstrating our hard-earned skills. However, we must remember the inherent dangers that are easy to forget, which can have deadly consequences.

  • 8 June 2025
  • Author: USACRC Editor
  • Number of views: 353
  • Comments: 0
Have a Contingency Plan

Unless you’ve experienced spatial disorientation while flying an aircraft, it’s difficult to truly understand the feeling. Fortunately, I’m still here to talk about the night it happened to me.

  • 1 June 2025
  • Author: USACRC Editor
  • Number of views: 221
  • Comments: 0
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