Lost a torque wrench mid-job at KCI and learned my lesson

I was working on a 737 flap track at Kansas City International last Tuesday and realized I left my torque wrench on the wing walk 3 bays over. Had to walk back through three other mechanics' work areas to grab it, feeling like an idiot the whole time. The shift lead just laughed and said "you're not a real mechanic until you do that at least once." It cost me 15 minutes of downtime and a lot of embarrassment, but now I always clip my tools to my belt loops. Anyone else have a story about leaving a tool somewhere stupid?

3 comments

3 Comments

colescott20h ago

Man, that walk of shame through other guys' work areas is brutal. I did the same thing once but it was a ratchet on the horizontal stab of a CRJ at a regional hangar in Des Moines. The shift lead back then told me I'd never forget it because I'd always check my pockets for the next month every time I stood up. That's actually what happened for me. So here's my question for you: did you actually clip your tools to your belt loops after that, or did you just swear you would and then go back to the old habit a week later? Because I'm guilty of the second one, and it took me three more forgotten tools to finally buy a real tool belt with clips.

richard_young8015h ago

@colescott Started clipping tools after my third walk. Finally clicked for me.

leewood15h ago

Ratchet on the horizontal stab of a CRJ" - man, that is wild. You must have felt your stomach drop when you realized it was up there.