Tools found in Aircraft

[John Dupre]

Not as dramatic as some of the later examples but I once found an 8 inch steel scraper inside a Beech 99 fuel bladder. It was the type with 90 degree bend. It was lying bent side up. I have a quarter inch deep well socket that has nice rings ground into it from lying wedged between baffling and a cylinder barrel.

An FBO I once worked for opened up the wing of a brand new Bonanza to install a flux gate and found a complete riveting set, gun, sets, and several bucking bars. Beechcraft had been involved in one of thier recurring labor disputes a few weeks before.

[avenger2504]

In investigating the crash the CAA found a "stubby" type screwdriver 15 metres from the main impact site, which the report says could have been sitting in the fuselage of the plane for a long period of time.

It could have been sitting in the field for just as long.. did they dust it for fingerprints? From the report it would appear they placed it in the aircraft part to take the photo?

I think they have more smarts than that! It was not found like that but the witness marks indicated where it was.

[cooper9411]

[seagull61785]

My story isn't exactly about finding a tool but it is relevant to the thread,

After a few hours towing gliders on a good soaring day, I finally got to relax as they were all airborne and I had no more customers. After a smoke and a coffee I got bored and decided to have a closer look at the PA-25 Pawnee towplane. Found a hunk of 2x4 pine about 3 feet long wedged down inside the rear of the fuselage by the tail.

My fault for not doing a proper pre-flight inspection when I changed over from the earlier 'morning duty' pilot at lunchtime. We just swapped over while the engine was running - it was busy!

When I asked him later how he missed it during his early morning pre-flight check he just shook his head and walked away without a word.

Learnt that checks actually matter - before you fly.