Serious question, why is everyone so against using a torque wrench on every single fastener?

I used to skip it on small stuff like panel screws, just went by feel. Then I saw a stripped out camloc on a Cessna 172 at our field. The repair bill was over two grand. Now I pull out the Snap-on TechAngle for everything, even the 10 inch-pound stuff. It adds maybe five minutes to a job. Anyone else run into trouble from skipping the click?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee8471mo ago

Man, this hits home. A buddy of mine was helping with his uncle's old Mooney, just snugging up some cowling fasteners by hand. Felt fine to him. Next flight, a whole section vibrated loose and got chewed up by the prop. Cost him a fortune and a ton of shame. Honestly, watching that happen made me a torque wrench believer for every single bolt, no matter how small it seems.

victor_robinson1mo agoMost Upvoted

Used to think torque specs were just for head bolts and lug nuts. Then I saw a guy at the field lose a wheel pant on a Cessna 172 because a few 10-32 screws shook out. The fiberglass got shredded on the runway. That was a cheap lesson to watch, but it got my attention. Now I even torque the little screws on inspection panels.

nancyj111mo ago

It's funny how a simple thing like a loose screw can cascade into real trouble. My cousin's husband ignored a tiny rattle in his old truck's dashboard for months. Turns out it was a bracket working loose, and the whole dash assembly eventually cracked from the stress over a rough road. The repair bill was shocking for what started as just an annoying noise.