A hidden crack I almost missed made me change my inspection routine

I always thought visual checks were enough for most jobs to save time. Then on a Cessna 182, I looked over the landing gear and saw nothing wrong. But later, I decided to run my hand over the strut and felt a small crack. It was so fine I couldn't see it even in good light. That crack could have led to a gear collapse on landing. Now I make sure to touch and feel every part after looking. It adds a minute or two, but it finds things eyes can't. Trust me, adding that extra step can stop big problems before they start.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_henry1mo ago

Yikes, I once almost cleared a strut just by looking. Do my fingers have better eyes than my face or what?

nancy_davis751mo ago

My buddy had a similar scare with an elevator hinge on a Cherokee. His eyes said it was fine but his fingers caught a jagged edge you couldn't see. That tactile check is now his non-negotiable final step too.

blakeharris26d ago

Oh man, that's so true. I had the exact same thing happen checking a flap track. Looked smooth as glass, but running a hand down it felt like a tiny metal shark tooth. My heart just dropped. Now I do the look, then the feel, every single time. Your fingers don't lie.