PSA: A pilot's comment about my torque wrench technique actually made sense

A captain at our hangar in Phoenix watched me torque a set of wheel bolts last month and said, 'You're pulling too fast, you'll overshoot the click.' I've been a mechanic for eight years and always did it that way. But I tried his advice on the next three planes, slowing my pull by half, and the wrench clicked way more consistently. It felt wrong at first, but the repeatability was better. Has anyone else had a simple piece of feedback from flight crew actually improve your process?

3 comments

3 Comments

janah831d ago

Slowing your pull by half" is something I would have argued against too.

jennifer83323h ago

Ever have a pilot point out something so basic you almost brushed it off? I got similar advice about my grip pressure from a first officer, and like @jessica130 said, focusing on a smooth motion was the real fix. It felt awkward but made the tool way more reliable.

jessica1301d ago

Slowing down the pull is key, but overshooting the click usually comes from jerking the handle at the end. A smooth, steady increase in pressure is what you want. In my experience, focusing on that smooth motion matters more than just the overall speed. It keeps you from adding that last little shove that blows past the click. Your captain was right to point out the speed, but the real fix is in the technique.