MR TIM CLARKE
On July 3, 2003, Mr. Tim Clarke, a maintenance journeyman, was assigned to 4 Hangar to repair an unserviceability on CT-156102, an NFTC Harvard aircraft. The fuel-related problem required a procedure that eliminates residual fuel in the wing of the aircraft. While carrying out this process, Mr. Clarke overheard a nearby workman verbalizing a problem he was encountering with the battery of a powered man-lift stand he was using on a construction project in the hangar. With the man-lift stand approximately ten feet away from the Harvard he was working on, Mr. Clarke correctly diagnosed the construction worker's comments to be related to a battery thermal runaway condition, following a recent battery recharging on the man-lift stand. Mr. Clarke immediately recognized the significant and imminent danger to personnel, the aircraft, and the hangar, especially with the abundance of fuel fumes present, from his nearby fuel elimination process.
Mr. Clarke asked the worker to assist him in pushing the man-lift stand out of the hangar. As the stand cleared the sill of the hangar door, the overheating battery exploded. Fragments were strewn widely and one piece contacted the face of the construction worker. Once he determined that the man-lift stand was in a safe area and no further danger existed to personnel, the aircraft, or the hangar, Mr. Clarke quickly led the construction worker to an eyewash station, to flush possible debris and/or acid from his face.
Mr. Clarke's presence of mind, skilful and accurate analysis of an imminent danger, and his timely action most certainly prevented a potentially larger disaster. His follow-on action, to mitigate possible battery acid burns to the construction worker, also ensured the prevention of further personal injury. Subsequently, an Occupational Health and Safety Report and a Flight Safety Initial Occurrence Report were filed. Mr. Clarke's flight safety work ethic and his professional excellence, in a highly dangerous situation, are most outstanding.
Mr. Clarke works for Bombardier Aerospace at the NATO Flying Training Centre (NFTC), 15 Wing Moose Jaw.
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