Pro tip: Stop overtightening lockwire on safety screws

I saw three different guys at the hangar in Phoenix last week snap the heads off AN bolts because they kept twisting past the torque spec just to get the wire hole lined up. All three had to drill out the broken studs and it added like 45 minutes to a simple panel job. Anyone else run into this or do you just use a spacer washer to fix the alignment?

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2 Comments

grayb642mo ago

Those pre drilled safety wire bolts are great when you can find the right size, but sometimes standard hardware is all that's in stock. I've started keeping a small bag of thin washers in my toolbox just for this problem, they take up like no space. Maybe it's just me, but I'll always take a few extra seconds to check alignment before I even pick up the torque wrench.

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diana_flores253mo ago

Used to crank those things down like I was trying to fuse the bolt to the nut, figured tighter was always better. Watched a buddy do the exact same thing you described on a Cessna aileron bracket last month, snapped the head clean off and we spent the next hour with an easy out. Now I just grab a thin washer or check the other bolt holes first, no way am I risking a drill out job for a wire alignment. Have you had any luck with those pre drilled safety wire bolts or do you stick with standard hardware?

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