 PRIVATE CHRIS KLOOSTERMAN
Following a flight safety incident for a prop feathering unserviceability on a CP-140 Aurora , a new pump housing was being installed. The pump housing has a maintenance cover to ensure no foreign objects can fall inside. After the pump housing was attached to the propeller the maintenance cover was removed. While carrying out a pre-installation inspection, Private Kloosterman noticed that a piece of the casing inside the pump housing was missing. He immediately informed his supervisors and halted the installation process.
Upon further inspection, it was noted that possibly a bolt that attaches the seal plate to the housing may have been too long and was tightened down until it went through the casing. At the time of discovery, even though the currently installed bolt was the right length, it would have allowed hydraulic fluid to leak out of the housing by the threads. Private Kloosterman was further concerned that the missing chip of the casing could be inside the housing and could cause secondary damage. Subsequent inspection revealed that the missing chip was indeed inside the pump housing. Had this pump housing been installed and operated with this problem undetected, it could have caused catastrophic failure of the propeller pump housing.
Private Kloosterman's diligence and tenacity saved a much needed 14 Wing operational asset.
Private Kloosterman serves at 14 Air Maintenance Squadron, 14 Wing Greenwood.
Back to Index
|
