PSA: The debate on using torque wrenches vs feel for landing gear bolts

I used to always torque landing gear bolts by feel, especially on smaller Cessnas. Been doing it that way for 15 years and never had a failure. Then about 3 years ago I had a gear bolt shear on a 172 after a hard landing. Luckily nobody got hurt, but it scared me straight. Now I pull out the torque wrench every single time, even on quick jobs. But some of the old timers I work with still swear by feel and say I'm overthinking it. What's your take do you trust the tool or your hands more?

3 comments

3 Comments

iris_davis9019d ago

My buddy Dave snapped a bolt on his Mooney and ended up stranded in Kansas for three days.

christopher_sullivan6d ago

Yeah three days beats the trip entirely. Next time tell Dave to keep a handful of grade 8 hardware in his flight bag, it's cheap insurance against a full-blown stranding.

the_logan18d ago

Man that's rough. Three days stuck in Kansas waiting on a single bolt? That's the kind of luck that makes you want to throw your toolbox across the hangar. Hope Dave at least found a decent diner and a place to crash while he waited on parts. Small stuff like that can really wreck a whole trip, especially when you're far from home. Did he have to special order the bolt or was it something common?