Flightline Safety Award of Distinction - Monthly Award Winners - Brief Article

Combat Edge, March, 2002

MSgt. Thomas J. Niznik 9th Reconnaissance Wing Beale AFB, Calif.

While on a lengthy deployment in support of Operation JOINT FORGE, MSgt. Thomas Niznik twice discovered discrepancies that could have resulted in the loss of aircraft. While performing an Exceptional Release on a U-2, Niznik took the initiative to perform a walk-around inspection. He noticed a major discrepancy on the left wing super pod. The aft portion of the super pod extends 3 to 4 feet aft of the wing's trailing edge and is held in place by 24 screws. The pod's aft body cone was held on with only one screw. If this discrepancy had gone uncorrected, the cone would have separated from the pod mid-body in flight. Wiring bundles connecting equipment in these two sections of the pod would then cause the cone to flail against the aircraft airframe, wing, and trailing edge flaps, causing severe structural damage and possible departure from controlled flight. Once the wiring bundles snapped, the cone would have blown into the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, resulting in possible loss of a 13-2 and pilot. In a second instance on the same deployment, Niznik was performing a walk-around on a U-2 that was preparing to depart the next morning. He noticed a small hole in the tail cone that appeared to be the result of a burn-through and identified this as the telltale sign of a lightning strike. The existing technical order data did not provide inspection guidance for this type of event. After red-Xing the aircraft forms, Niznik called home station for a depot assist, recalled off-duty crewmembers and a Lockheed technical representative to perform troubleshooting actions, and developed a game plan for inspecting the airframe, accessory, avionics, and sensor packages. MSgt. Niznik's diligence and safety-first team attitude resulted in the prevention of additional damage to a valuable national asset.