Flightline Safety Award of Distinction - Monthly Award Winners - A1C Eugene D. Ward and SrA Ronald L. Mathis - Brief Article

Combat Edge, April, 2003

On Nov. 19, 2002, A1C Ward was performing a preflight inspection on the electrical wiring and electronic components located in the electrical bay of a U-2S aircraft, when he noticed a serious defect with the aircraft battery assembly. As per technical data, Amn Ward checked the aircraft batteries for damage and security. Next, he checked the wiring connected to the emergency battery. While inspecting the wiring, he noticed a portion of the wires were chaffing against the Transformer-Rectifier power connection lugs in an area not easily seen without the use of a mirror and flashlight. The portion of wires that were chaffing against the power connection lugs were also chaffed completely through the protective chaffing pad that was protecting the wire bundle. At this time he called for an Electronic/Environmental specialist to determine if the wiring was damaged beyond technical order standards. SrA Mathis arrived to look at the wiring and determined that the wire in question had only begun to chaff and did not need to be replaced. The wire bundle was then wrapped with a new protective chaff pad and re-routed away from the Transformer-Rectifier to ensure the bundle would not be damaged further. If this potentially dangerous condition had not been found, at minimum, an aircraft electrical fire most likely would have occurred. SrA Mathis and AlC Ward's corrective actions prevented a severe degradation to the reliability of the aircraft's electrical system and the possible loss of the aircraft. Furthermore, the combined dedicated efforts and technical expertise of SrA Mathis and AlC Ward prevented unnecessary risk to the pilot's safety and possible catastrophic loss of the aircraft, one of a limited number of premier aerial platforms capable of supporting national interests by performing high-altitude reconnaissance missions.

A1C Eugene D. Ward and SrA Ronald L. Mathis

9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

9th Reconnaissance Wing

Beale AFB, Calif