Pin repair on the bench vs on the wing, which one is actually faster?

Swapped out a cannon plug on a 737 flap actuator last Tuesday and did the pinning on the bench to save back strain. Ended up chasing two crossed pins for an hour with the multimeter because I got distracted by a hangar mate asking about lunch. On the wing, I'd have been more careful since I was working in tight space. Maybe it's just me, but I'm starting to think bench work gives me false confidence. Anyone else find they make more silly mistakes when the part is off the aircraft?

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1 Comment

martinez.karen18d agoMost Upvoted

Funny you mention that. The real time killer isn't the bench or the wing, it's the second set of eyes. On the bench you're solo. On the wing there's always a guy walking by who stops to look. That alone makes you double check every pin before you close it up. Bench work feels private and safe, so the brain goes on autopilot. Also, the part is more stable on the bench, so you rush the wire bundle layout. Out on the wing, you're fighting the harness slack and that forces you to physically trace each wire. That tracing is what catches the crossed pins, not your eyes. So yeah, bench can be faster right up until you have to dig out the meter and look like a rookie.