Torque wrench calibration bit me on a 737 brake job

Had an MLG wheel install go sideways last month at KLAX. The torque wrench was clicking fine on the test gauge but was actually reading 15 ft-lb high. Snapped a nut on the axle sleeve and had to reorder a whole kit, set us back 3 hours before push. Shop supervisor just shrugged and said 'airworthy means it passed once' but I'm not buying that now. I'm checking my wrenches against a manual beam style every Monday now, takes 10 minutes and saves way bigger headaches. Anyone else had a calibration that passed inspection but still felt wrong in the field?

1 comments

1 Comment

the_henry23d ago

Honestly, is it really about the gear passing a check, though? A gauge that says okay but feels off in your hands is your clue, not the paper. That Monday routine is just common sense, and more guys should do it before they learn the hard way like you did.