STORY 003 Mechanic LEFT inside B-707 aircraft wing

 

STORY  NUMBER3

 

Mechanic inside the aircraft wing

Like every incident or event or an accident there is a common thing that is not proper communicating and let me say it’s the miscommunication which is most of the time for an misunderstanding  ending in unexpected result most of my stories  i will count on my good luck and the prayers of my late mom she was alive and with me when i was working in Saudia Jeddah  so most of the time the narrow escape is all the way from ALLAH s blessing or may be return of good deeds  so to start with  when i started the aircraft maintenance job there in Saudia airlines we had the operational Boeing 707 and the number of fleet started increasing to Tri-Star and airbus and Boeing 747 the Boeing 737 were also use this story is of the unique time when Saudia was operating Boeing 707  the aircraft came to hanger for a fuel leak problem and as we don’t had  the place to park inside hangar the aircraft was parked in wash dock  and power was removed   the wash dock is the area where the aircrafts are washed for their cleanliness appearance and as required by marketing this aircraft was on a non-scheduled  visit to hanger for fuel leak so it was parked there

In those days new aircraft were entering so this old boy BOEING707 was taken as a burden and less care but as it was operative we had to maintain as serviceable the supervisor use to give the odd jobs to whom they wanted to give some tough times so coming back to story arrival of this aircraft was for fuel leak repair at left wing so the aircraft was handled by sheet metal crew for fuel leak repair and when the job was completed by sheet metal the fuel repair we had to put aircraft back to service the papers of sign out were completed and inspectors stamped it for ok to close panels let me tell you the four steps of jobs were like this

1. The fuel tank access panel opens up  as per the requirement of the job as the number indicated on the paper diagram …..signed on by a mechanic

2. Repair requires nonroutine card write-up and Completion. of job sign-off by a mechanic

3 inspected the area by the inspector and stamped the last steps. for ok to close all open-up panels

4.  panels close up  and   signature for putting back aircraft as normal  serviceable

so the complete paper was given to me to sign off till step 3 had to do a close-up  so    one of my supervisors told me to  go and close the panels and handed the paperwork to me to sign it off after I close the panels

As  the aircraft was parked in almost dark and no power was on aircraft as well it was a little dark the lights are open if the aircraft  required    wash  but as the aircraft was there  in for fuel leak repair which was also completed so very few lights were on  any way     I went to the aircraft and start closing the panels on the wings  as I started close up from  the outboard of number  one engine   and look inside by putting my head in the cavity actually this is the panel used for entry in tank the fuel leak repair the person had to enter for applying sealant or whatever require as the case may be so I just  put my head in that cavity to checkup if anything remains  as any rag or  for the people left sometime the sponge  etc. etc.  before close-up  the panel was in my hand   i close on and just heard something like metal touch or strange voice  in the far near  wing root  i just got scared  but to keep myself  a strong feeling  you know it was  almost dark night shift 02 AM may be the time dark enough to scare you all the haunted stories start striking my head  in a

But in a funny way  shouted and like announcement  made    at airport  final call  final call  is anybody in side ;last chance and I will close the final panel    it was just a funny way but you know to my surprise of million ton on me    I am here  there came a voice far away in ward of  wing root and  i was on left wing tip almost  hay buddy wait I was frozen like a stone    for a moment as that voice was of my friend David a British guy  the sheet metal crew supervisor     and you know he was there luckily i just didn’t close the panels  sooner he came out I was shocked as there was no information that somebody is still in side wings all the papers were evident when I settled and inquired this poor guy went inside for final checkup of the job done by his crew he had one mechanic who was supposed to be standing near him outside the wing tip panel   of entrance but by the time i came there nobody was there  he was not there and he return after some time  telling us he went to washroom  the he sheet metal supervisor my friend David was also very angry but ALHAMDULILLAH   ALLAH save me again from another incidence  yes i will call it my good luck that as of my funny bone I made the final call  as my supervisor bob was knowing that job is completed but in confidence the sheet metal guy sign the papers so inspector  also inspected the repair and stamped out     then the number 4 step    finally the poor guy Abbasi was going to close the panels see if i just don’t made an voice is ANYBODY IN THERE things would have been different  now after all so many years when i memorize that event the face of DAVID come in my front and say so Abbas you were making a metal grave for me in fact all the equipment were removed and the guy who was supposed to be sitting for watch just got an nature call    should have not gone without informing anybody  but

 life is like that small care and no care counts especially when we are packing the job must be very careful and guys if you are closing any close doors or panels  or any normal open up of any place

just say HI to ANYBODY THERE  remember THESE GOLDEN words MAY save somebody  who is still there and has no information outside world, yes it’s a good practice  who knows

LISTEN  watch AND ENJOY  ON THE FOLLOWING LINK  https://youtu.be/wq7rBo0FX_U

 

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