My digital torque adapter gave bogus numbers on a 737 flap screw

Ran into a mess on Tuesday during a routine flap track check on a 737 at MRO in Phoenix. I used my digital torque adapter, the one I've trusted for about 8 months, and it clicked off at 42 inch-pounds when the manual called for 70. Pulled it off, put on the old beam style wrench, and got 71 right away. Turned out the adapter's battery was low and it was compensating weird. Spent an extra 45 minutes re-torquing every fastener on that panel. Has anyone else had a digital tool fail like that from a dying battery, or should I just switch back to analog for critical stuff? Thinking about pitching all my fancy electronics for the old school gear now.

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1 Comment

umabailey1d ago

Wait, the battery dying made it read 28 inch-pounds low and it still clicked like it was fine? That's wild. I had a digital level do something similar once, it drifted by almost half a degree after sitting in a hot truck all summer, but nothing that bad. For something like flap screws on a 737, that's a huge difference, 42 versus 70 is not even close. I get wanting to go back to analog after that, but maybe just check battery life before you start, like a pre-flight on your tools.