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[QUOTE="Kaman, post: 5411, member: 363"]
Hey Simon,
                 Recognizing that this is a public forum you are entitled to your opinion. However, I will also add that I stand by my original post. Secondly, I was not and did not "crucify" any mechanics. My experience that I was refering to was not a FOD related incident. I've also been involved in one of those too. If memory serves a certain rigging pin was left in the flight controls. This made it past the tech. doing the job, the CDI/QAR (Collateral Duty Inspector/Quality Assurance Representative), the Plane Captain and last but not least, the pilots. Us aircrew types preflight the bottom, nose, cabin and tail. While the pilots do the top and the rotor system.
                I agree that everyone in this business, both military and civilian makes mistakes. Your's truly humbly included. Where the distinction MUST be drawn is the difference between an honest mistake and negligent. Were those Navy folks negligent? Hell, yes! Was adminstrative (loss of CDI/QAR letter) action and punishment (Art. 15 Non-jdicial punishment) taken? Hell, yes! and it was indeed warranted.
                In the case of the United Airlines 733 incident similar actions should also be taken. If and as I stated earlier. ONLY if proper maintenance procedures were NOT followed.   If there was a breakdown in communication between maintenance control and the hangar floor than the airline itself is and should be subject to scrutiny by the FAA for it's maintenance procedures. Specifically, FOD and tool control.
                Finally, my friend I spent a good amount of my time not only flying in Naval aircraft as a crewmember, but also turned many a wrench on them too.  Did I keep an eagle eye on the other technicans? Hell, yes! Why? Because only my young ass was going flying off the boat in that helicopter and I had a vested interest in the airworthiness of that aircraft. There is an old saying in aviation, "In God We Trust, Everyone Else We Check". Think about that and it just might keep you or your buddies alive someday.  Out of 6 young men in my initial training class, 3 were killed in aircraft mishaps and the remaining three, including myself were all involved in a Class "A" mishap (loss of aircraft or strike damage).

Regards,
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