Originally Posted by
ShyTorque
But a checklist doesn't necessarily cover the situation where non-controlled and/or unauthorised tools or procedures have been used during maintenance and items left in out of the way places. Even if lolly sticks were/are the correct and controlled tools for the job, why did the engineer leave them in place after maintenance?
Sticks are definitely not the proper or approved method to put the switches in ground mode. Ever since that incident, every G2-GV Gulfstream maintenance manual carries a large caution message to the effect: "WARNING! The Gulfstream wedge p/n xxx.xxx.xxx is the ONLY authorized method which may be used to place the aircraft weight on wheel system into ground mode".
The tool in question is a wedge-shaped piece of metal which slides between the roller on the base of the squat (nutcracker) switch plunger and the curved metal bracket where the roller normally rides when the gear is compressed. The wedge has a large red "Remove Before Flight" streamer attached to it.
The incident in question was a failure on the part of both the maintenance organization, and the flight crew.