Five + One Equals.. Five?

Flying Safety, Oct, 2001 by MICHAEL "THEO' THEOCHARIDES

There They Were... A KC-10 aircrew was preflighting for a local, night training sortie. When the time came to pull the landing gear pins, Airman Brandnewbie, a young, ambitious three-level airman, noted that the safety pin for the center gear was bent. He told Sergeant Longtime, the lead Crew Chief, who directed Brandnewbie to go to the AGS tool crib and get a new center gear pin. While Brandnewbie was away getting the replacement gear pin, Longtime showed the KC-10's FE that all five la ding gear pins--two from the nose, and one each from the left, center an right main landing gear--were now removed.

Brandnewbie returned with the replacement center-gear pin, just as the crew was preparing to close the aircraft and get serious about launching. And he installed it. (You can already tell where this story's going, can't you?) As the flight crew was wrapping up final preparations, Longtime joined them inside the aircraft to monitor their progress (and maybe shoot the breeze a little, too). Just as Brandnewbie was about to board the jet and gain valuable experience in shooting the breeze, Longtime asked him, "Did you move that stand away from the right wing?" Inwardly disappointed he wouldn't be able to hang out with his mentor and idol, the understudy did an immediate about face and commenced moving the stand, with assistance from Airman Marshaller, another, more experienced Crew Chief who had just been dropped off by the Expediter.

Marshaller asked Brandnewbie, "would you like to block the aircraft out while I Stand behind and give you instructions?" Like a kid offered the keys to a candy store, Brandnewbie got this big grin on his face and said excitedly, "Heck, yes!" Barely concealing his enthusiasm, Brandnewbie proudly put on the marshalling vest, checked out the marshalling wands to make sure they were ready for his first nighttime block out and took his post well out to the front of the KC-10's nose. At about the same time, Longtime exited the aircraft and was walking down the air stairs as the aircraft's cabin door closed behind him. With the stand at the right wingtip now cleared, Marshaller informed Longtime that he would be instructing Brandnewbie in the finer points of blocking out an aircraft. Longtime okayed the plan, and he and Marshaller commenced clearing the air stairs from the aircraft.

Once the area around the aircraft was cleared of all AGE, Longtime hooked up on ground interphone to finish up launch checks. Just a short time later, Brandnewbie was gratified to hear the powerful GE fan engines starting. He knew his proud moment was just a flash of the nose gear landing light away (A signal the Aircraft Commander's ready to taxi. Ed.). "There it is!" Brandnewbie raised his arms in a full "X" and watched closely, waiting for Longtime to come off interphone and clear the aircraft. Once clear, Brandnewbie started waving his wands back and forth, slowly and methodically, signaling the AC to commence taxi. Marshaller raised his voice loud enough to be heard over the engine noise and said "Pick up the pace Brandnewbie!" then, "Okay, now start signaling a hard left turn."

Longtime observed it all from a position off the right wing, watching proudly as his three-level flawlessly blocked the aircraft out. Just as the underbody strobe light came on, he saw Brandnewbie assume the position of attention and render a smart salute and "Good flight!" to the crew. Marshaller patted Brandnewbie on the back as they walked back to the now-vacant parking spot to check for FOD and joined up with Longtime for a critique as they waited for the Expediter to swing by and pick them up.

Twelve minutes later, riding in the Expediter truck and on the way to work other jobs, the Maintainers heard the following transmission over the radio: "KC-10, tail number XX-XXXX, is returning to base with a center gear that won't retract."

Longtime turned to Brandnewbie, studied his face for a long moment, then asked: "By the way, Airman Brandnewbie. Where's that new center gear safety pin I sent you for?"

Epilogue

There were conflicting opinions on whether or not the replacement center gear safety pin had a "Remove Before Flight" streamer attached, but none of the three members of the launch team observed a streamer in the vicinity of the center gear flapping in the breeze. Of course, it was a night launch, too. What is known is that there wasn't one attached when the aircraft landed after the air abort. As a result:

* Sergeant Longtime was counseled on the importance of supervisory oversight and accountability.

* Airman Marshaller was counseled on the finer points of being more observant.

* And Airman Brandnewbie? He received remedial math and now clearly understands: Five Plus One DOES NOT Equal Five.

A note from the author: Yes, I did embellish parts of this story to keep your interest, but the events were real, and the names were unimportant to its telling. This event could have happened to anyone. Don't let it be you!