Appreciation post: That first time I saw a turbine blade crack before it let go

Back in '06 at the regional line in Boise, I caught a hairline fracture on a CF34 blade during a borescope inspection. The senior guy said I saved us a engine change on the ramp. Has anyone else had a moment where that extra look paid off big?

2 comments

2 Comments

hart.taylor14h ago

Did you ever notice how that same kind of patience pays off with something totally unrelated, like checking tire tread depth in a rental car? Last summer I was driving through Wyoming and stopped at a rest area, figured I'd give the tires a quick look since the ride felt a little floaty. One rear tire was worn down to the wear bars on the inside edge, not even visible unless you squatted down and looked from the right angle. Must've saved me from a blowout doing 75 on I-80, and I still think about that cracked turbine blade story every time I spot something like that.

david12313h ago

@hart.taylor next time just rent a horse and skip the tire check...