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Corporal Corey Edwards
The Flight Engineer (FE) section at 400 Tactical
Helicopter Squadron was asked to carry out a 25-hour
inspection on Griffon CH146454. While doing
so, Corporal Edwards, a FE under training, was tasked
to remove the cargo hook in order to disconnect a
push-pull rod for the tail rotor controls believed
to be in suspect condition.
Upon completion of this first task, Corporal Edwards
took the opportunity to conduct an impromptu investigation
in an unusually accessible ‘hell-hole’. He found a
rigid hydraulic line from the #2 accumulator to the
#2 hydraulic pressure switch that was rubbing on an
adjacent line fitting. Upon closer examination he
discovered that the line was deeply nicked. He immediately
brought this to the attention of his supervisor, who
in turn took the matter to the appropriate maintenance
authority. The line was removed and after a thorough
cleaning, it was agreed that this line would likely
have ruptured in the near future resulting in the
loss of the #2 hydraulic system and a subsequent emergency
condition for the aircrew.
Corporal Edwards went beyond what was called
for and in so doing he discovered a failing aircraft
component. His individual effort averted what
would have likely degraded into a serious flight
safety occurrence.
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