item and declared, “Hey, let’s build an air- craft around this thing,” and bam, just like that, they build the machine without regard for the people who’ll have to repair or service it. I was nearing the end of the job and thought it would be wise to run a magnet around the floorboard area and ribs to see what it might pick up. I had been careful not to drop any hardware or anything else I was using while working in the aircraft, so I was pleased to find no magnetic debris after sweeping the area with the magnet. After climbing back out of the aircraft
for the final time, I quietly celebrated my maintenance victory. You know the feel- ing—thinking about a job well done. But then, at that moment of bliss and accom- plishment, I thought to myself, “You know, you should really contort yourself again and put your head in there to make sure everything is correct.”
There ensued the personal mental bat-
tle we’ve all faced at one time or another. “I just got out of there,” I argued with myself. “I didn’t drop anything, and the magnet didn’t pick up anything. “Dammit,” I countered to myself, “I need to get back in there to double-check, or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
Trust Your Intuition Heeding my inner voice, I curved my body into the aircraft again like a circus profes- sional and wedged my head into a tiny hole, leaving no room to spare so I could get my eyes on the target. And holy cow, lying there was a screwdriver from years past, wedged right between the rudder pedals, that the magnet couldn’t pick up. I was able to get my fingers into the space and pluck it out. Afterward, I couldn’t help but feel thankful that my conscience hadn’t allowed me to rest until I had rechecked
the area where I’d been working to verify that I had left behind no foreign object debris. Thinking back over my many years as a pilot and maintenance technician, how many times have I been strapped in the cockpit ready to perform an engine start and then worried I hadn’t secured a com- partment? How many times have I thought a panel was closed, fastened with several screws, only to open it back up again to verify that everything was as it was supposed to be? Bottom line: we must listen to our
inner voice. Often it’s just a passing thought, but sometimes you have that “aha” moment after following up on something when you say to yourself, “I’m glad I checked that,” and a flight goes on without incident because you did. Did it cost you more time? Maybe, but the confidence—and security—you gained was worth the extra effort.
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Enstrom Helicopter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 906-863-1200 |
enstromhelicopter.com
0 |
enstromhelicopter.com
Falcon Crest Aviation Supply Inc. . . . . . . . . .5 626-813-1234 |
falconcrestaviation.com
Falcon Crest Aviation Supply Inc. . . . . . . . . .5 626-813-1234 |
falconcrestaviation.com
Heliladder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541-350-3748 |
heliladder.com
Heliladder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/benefits
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39, 61 48 |
heliladder.com
King Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 541-350-3748 |
heliladder.com
King Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/benefits
LIG Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 800-902-4106 |
ligmembers.com/hai
LIG Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 800-902-4106 |
ligmembers.com/hai
NAASCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 631-399-2244 |
naasco.com
MD Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C4 480-346-6300 |
mdhelicopters.com
EUROPEAN ROTORS 2024: The VTOL Show and Safety Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C2 +49 1511 5229886 |
europeanrotors.eu
EUROPEAN ROTORS 2024: The VTOL Show and Safety Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C2 +49 1511 5229886 |
europeanrotors.eu
MD Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C4 480-346-6300 |
mdhelicopters.com
onPeak. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 855-211-4898 |
onpeak.com/VERTICON25
NAASCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 631-399-2244 |
naasco.com
Pilatus Aircraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 303-465-9099 |
pilatus-aircraft.com
Rotors ’n Ribs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
rotorsnribs.com
SEI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 866-570-3473 |
sei-ind.com
VAI: Exhibit at VERTICON 2025 . . . . . . . . . .12 703-683-4646 |
verticon.org
VAI Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/FDM
onPeak. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 855-211-4898 |
onpeak.com/VERTICON25
Pacific Southwest Instruments . . . . . . . . . .C3 951-737-0790 |
psilabs.com
Pilatus Aircraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 303-465-9099 |
pilatus-aircraft.com
Rotors ’n Ribs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
rotorsnribs.com
SEI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 866-570-3473 |
sei-ind.com
VAI: Exhibit at VERTICON 2025 . . . . . . . . . .12 703-683-4646 |
verticon.org
Pacific Southwest Instruments . . . . . . . . . .C3 951-737-0790 |
psilabs.com
VAI Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) Program . 53
AI Flight Training and Checking
Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/FDM
703-683-4646 |
rotor.org/resources/ftc
VAI Flight Training and Checking Program 20 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/benefits
AI: Join VAI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 703-683-4646 |
rotor.org/resources/ftc
VAI: Join VAI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
AI Online Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/benefitsverticalavi.org/academy
VAI Online Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Accreditation (ORRA) Program . . . . . . . . . .21
AI Operational Risk and Resilience 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/academy 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/ORRA
VAI Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation (ORRA) Program . . . . . . . . . .21 703-683-4646 |
verticalavi.org/ORRA
VAI: SMS Assessment and Coaching from WYVERN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 703-683-4646 |
wyvernltd.com/wyvern-hai-sms -evaluation-program
VAI: SMS Assessment and Coaching from WYVERN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 703-683-4646 |
wyvernltd.com/ wyvern-hai-sms-evaluation-program
VAI: Submit Your Photo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
rotormedia.com/photo-submission
VAI: Submit Your Photo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
rotormedia.com/photo-submission
JUNE 2024 ROTOR 63
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