Comair Mech. gets arm cut off

[JustaNumber]

Word I got is, they weren't using a regulator. Straight tank air=bomb.

And how could this happen? Are regulators always attached to the tanks, or do mechanics have to remember to add one? Are there specific procedures to follow? One would think that for something that critical, an inflation fitting/hose would be designed to only fit on a regulator, or some similar setup. It just seems like a failure of the system.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Sounds horrible. I hope this poor 19 yr old sues. He just might be on disability for the remainder of his life.

 

[Hovernut]

Word I got is, they weren't using a regulator. Straight tank air=bomb.

That was my 1st suspicion. Most any time we had a high-pressure incident in the Navy with N2 bottles or HP Air on the sub, it was because someone tried to throttle with the tank isolation valve instead of using a regulator. I hope that wasn't the case here, but we'll find out when the NTSB report is released.

 

[buscap]

And how could this happen? Are regulators always attached to the tanks, or do mechanics have to remember to add one? Are there specific procedures to follow? One would think that for something that critical, an inflation fitting/hose would be designed to only fit on a regulator, or some similar setup. It just seems like a failure of the system.

Well, all accidents are a system failure by some definitions. After all, the safest aircraft are shrink wrapped and parked in the hangar. Of course the shrink-wrapping is done by robot-built robots, so nobody gets burned by the heat gun.

There's a good chance this guy was taught better and supplied with the proper tools. Odds are he was taking a shortcut; a shortcut he had taken before and gotten away with.

Now, if taught wrong, not properly supplied or maybe forced to take the shortcut; then there is a problem at the system level. As far as the fittings being designed in order to not allow the regulator exclusion, that is something OSHA would have to require, before anyone would invest the money. This sort of accident happens so often, I'm sure it's already been hashed out in courts.

BTW, I could be way off about the regulator thing, but it is what i heard from a sister company mech who had been briefed in an accident-prevention context.

 

[Seaknight1]

This is exactly why you don't stand/kneel in front of the rim while servicing aircraft tires. You stay off to the side and as far back as possible so as not to get hit by the rim if it explodes. That's the first thing they taught us in the Navy when we learned to R & R tires and how to service them. I guess our mx department just learned a lesson which had to be learned the hardway by this horrible accident.

 

[agonyairfo]

I have a minor correction. I heard that the guy using the bottle was the new guy and a more senior guy with him was the one that actually got hurt. I know this is similiar to an aircraft accident, i.e., I don't want to post false info or speculate based on third handed info passing around. Hopefully, someones does a thorough investigation and gets to the bottom of this.

Again, this is bad for all invloved. It is a reminder to slow down and be careful, especially with more forloughs on the way, low morale, etc.

 

[Hovernut]

Had MX on board today and the story is the mech thought he was unloading the regulator by screwing it in. That action actually allows the regulator to pass ever increasing pressure....gotta screw it out (CCW) to unload it. Opened the tank isolation valve, then BOOM! What actually came apart was the nosewheel rim and shrapnel pierced a nearby RJ as well as seriously injuring the mech. I can't imagine being in the cockpit if that ever were to happen again with the triple-A coming through the floorboards! I hope the reattachment surgery is successful.