Stop ignoring those AN3 bolt torque values on control cables

I caught a guy at my shop in Phoenix last month just snugging up the castle nut on a rudder cable bolt and calling it good. That's how you get a bolt backing out mid-flight if the cotter pin ever breaks. I've seen three separate incidents now where guys thought 'good enough' was okay for those 12-15 inch-pound specs. Has anyone else noticed new mechanics skipping the torque wrench on flight control hardware?

2 comments

2 Comments

seana1428d ago

Yeah, "calling it good" works fine 99% of the time on those little bolts, and if the cotter pin's in right, that bolt isn't going anywhere.

garcia.charles27d ago

That's pretty much the golden rule of small bolts and cotter pins - close enough is good enough until it's not, lol. Honestly, I've seen guys torque those things to spec with a fancy wrench and still have them rattle loose a week later. Meanwhile, my grandpa's old tractor has been held together by a bent nail and prayer for the last 40 years. You gotta love that 1% chance it all goes sideways though. How many times have you actually had one of those little bolts fail on you?