Text-only reference. Published from the recorded official FAA General Chapter 14 PDF. Diagrams, photographs, and figure artwork are not reproduced here; use the official FAA PDF for those materials.
14-19 THE DIRTY DOZEN Twelve human factors for aircraft maintenance proficiency Lack of Teamwork Fatigue Lack of Resources
Pressure
Lack of Assertiveness
Stress
Lack of Awareness Norms Complacency Lack of Knowledge Distraction Lack of Communication MITIGATING THE RISK Once returning to the job, go back through all of the steps to ensure where you left off. Never leave tools or parts lying around. Secure them before leaving the area. Use a detailed checklist. A distraction could be anything that takes your mind off the task that is being done. Any distraction while working can cause us to think we are further ahead in the process than we actually are. could create a problem. Parts are not the only resources needed to do a job properly, but all too frequently parts become a critical issue. AMTs can try to be proactive by checking suspected areas or tasks that may require parts at the beginning of the inspection. Aircraft on ground (AOG) is a term in aviation maintenance indicating that a problem is serious enough to prevent an aircraft from flying. In these cases, there is a rush to acquire the parts to put the aircraft back into service and prevent further delays or cancellations of the planned itinerary. AOG applies to any aviation materials or spare parts that are needed immediately for an aircraft to return to service. AOG suppliers refer qualified personnel and dispatch the parts required to repair the aircraft for an immediate return to service. AOG also is used to describe critical shipments for parts or materials for aircraft “out of service” (OTS) at a location.
If the status of an aircraft is AOG and materials required are not on hand, parts and personnel must be driven, flown, or 14-20 THE DIRTY DOZEN Twelve human factors for aircraft maintenance proficiency Lack of Teamwork Fatigue Lack of Resources
Pressure
Lack of Assertiveness
Stress
Lack of Awareness Norms Complacency Lack of Knowledge Distraction Lack of Communication MITIGATING THE RISK Ensure that lines of communication are open between personnel. Always look out for co-workers with safety in mind. Discuss specific duties when jobs require more than one person to eliminate any questions. Personality differences in the workplace must be left at the door. Organizations should emphasize that a lack of teamwork can ultimately affect the safety of maintenance work. sailed to the location of the grounded aircraft. Usually the problem is escalated through an internal AOG desk, then the manufacturer’s AOG desk, and finally competitors’ AOG desks. All major air carriers have an AOG desk that is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by personnel trained in purchasing, hazardous materials shipping, and parts manufacturing and acquisition processes.
Within an organization, making sure that personnel have the correct tools for the job is just as important as having the proper parts when they are needed. Having the correct tools means not having to improvise. For example, an aircraft that had received a new interior needed to be weighed prior to being released to fly. Two days before the planned release, the aircraft was weighed without the proper electronic load cells placed between the aircraft jack and the aircraft. Because the correct equipment was not used, the aircraft slipped off of one of the load cells and the jack point creased the spar. The cost of improvising can be very steep. The right tools for the job need to be used at all times, and if they are broken, out of