Par 13-2 Page 13-1 CHAPTER 13. HUMAN FACTORS
13-1. HUMAN FACTORS INFLUENCE ON MECHANIC’S PERFORMANCE. To accomplish any task in aviation maintenance at least three things must be in evidence. A mechanic must have the tools, data, and technical skill to perform maintenance. Only recently has the aviation industry addressed the mechanic job functions, pressures, and stress, by identifying those human factors (HF) that impact the mechanics performance.
13-2. THE FAA AVIATION SAFETY PROGRAM has condensed these HF reports into a personal minimums checklist, which asks the mechanic to answer 10 ‘yes or no’ questions before the maintenance task is begun and 10 ‘yes or no’ questions after the task is completed. If the mechanic answers “NO” to any of the 20 questions, the aircraft should not be returned to service.
We have provided the checklist in Figure 13-1 for your evaluation and review. A color copy of the checklist is available from any Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Just ask for the Airworthiness Safety Program manager.
Par 13-2 Page 13-2 FIGURE 13-1. PERSONAL MINIMUMS CHECKLIST Do I have the knowledge to perform the task?
Do I have the technical data to perform the task?
Have I performed the task previously?
Do I have the proper tools and equipment to perform the task?
Have I had the proper training to support the job task?
Am I mentally prepared to perform the job task?
Am I physically prepared to perform the task?
Have I taken the proper safety precautions to perform the task?
Do I have the resources available to perform the task?
Have I researched the 14 CFRs to ensure compliance?
Did I perform the job task to the best of my abilities?
Was the job task performed to be equal to the original?
Was the job task performed in accordance with appropriate data?
Did I use all the methods, techniques, and practices acceptable to industry?
Did I perform the job task without pressures, stress, and distractions?
Did I reinspect my work or have someone inspect my work before returning to service?
Did I make the proper record entries for the work performed?
Did I perform the operational checks after the work was completed?
Am I willing to sign on the bottom line for the work performed?
Am I willing to fly in the aircraft once it is approved for the return to service
Appendix 1 APPENDIX 1. GLOSSARY The following words and terms represent some of those that are often encountered in the field of aviation. For a more complete list of definitions, a mechanic or technician should consult an aviation dictionary.
-A- Abrasion resistant PTFE — A solid insulation wall of PTFE with hard, nonconductive grit positioned midway in the wall thickness, and significantly improves the resistance of the PTFE material to damage from wear.
Acetylene — Gas composed of two parts of carbon and two parts of hydrogen. When burned in the atmosphere of oxygen, it produces one of the highest flame temperatures obtainable.
Acetylene regulator — Manually adjustable device used to reduce cylinder pressure to torch pressure and to keep the pressure constant. They are never to be used as oxygen regulators.
Adherend — One of the members being bonded together by adhesive.
Airworthiness Directive— A regulation issued by the FAA that applies to aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances, when an unsafe condition exists and that condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Airworthy — Is when an aircraft or one of its component parts meets its type design and is in a condition for safe operation.
Ambient light — The visible light level measured at the surface of the part.
Ampere (amp) — The basic unit of current flow. One A is the amount of current that flows when a difference of potential of 1 V is applied to a circuit with a resistance of 1 Ω. One coulomb per second.
Antenna — A device designed to radiate or intercept electromagnetic waves.
Anti-tear strips — Strips of fabric of the same material as the airplane is covered with, laid over the wing rib under the reinforcing tape.
Apparent power — The product of volts and amperes in AC circuits where the current and voltage are out of phase.
Appliance — Any instrument, mechanism, equipment, part, apparatus, appurtenance, or accessory, including communications equipment, that is used or intended to be used in operating or controlling an aircraft in flight, is installed in or attached to the aircraft, and is not part of an airframe, engine or propeller.
Appendix 1 Arm — A measurement of distance, in inches, feet, etc., used in weight and balance calculations. Normally only the longitudinal arm is of practical importance. The three axial arms are longitudinal arm, lateral arm, and vertical arm.
Automatic direction finder (ADF) — A radio receiver utilizing a directional loop antenna that enables the receiver to indicate the direction from which a radio signal is being received; also called a radio compass.
Automatic flight control system (AFCS) — A flight control system incorporating an automatic pilot with additional systems such as a VOR coupler, an ILS approach coupler, and an internal navigation system that is fully automatic, so the aircraft can be flown in a completely automatic mode.
Avionics — The science and technology of electronics as applied to aviation.
Azimuth — Angular distance measured on a horizontal circle in a clockwise direction from either north or south.
-B- Balance — The condition of stability which exists in an aircraft when all weight and forces are acting in such a way as to prevent rotation about an axis or pivot point.
Base metal — The metal to be welded, brazed, soldered, or cut.
Black light — Electromagnetic radiation in the near ultraviolet range of wavelength.
Blade station — Is a reference position on a blade that is a specified distance from the center of the hub.
Bond — The adhesion of one surface to another, with or without the use of an adhesive as a bonding agent.
Bonding — A general term applied to the process of electrically connecting two or more conductive objects. In aircraft, the purpose of bonding (except as applied to individual connections in the wiring and grounding systems) is to provide conductive paths for electric currents. This is accomplished by providing suitable low-impedance connections joining conductive aircraft components and the aircraft structure. Another purpose of bonding is to ensure the safe passage of current caused by lightning or static electricity through the aircraft structure.
Borescope — A long, tubular optical instrument designed for remote visual inspection of surfaces.
Brashness — A condition of wood characterized by low resistance to shock and by an abrupt failure across the grain without splintering.
Appendix 1 Braze welding — A welding process variation in which a filler metal, having a liquidus above 450 °C (840 °F) and below the solidus of the base metal is used. Unlike brazing, in braze welding the filler metal is not distributed in the joint by capillary action.
Brazing — The joining of two pieces of metal by wetting their surface with molten alloy of copper, zinc, or tin.
Bus or bus bar — Solid copper strips to carry current between primary and secondary circuits;
also used as jumpers.
Butt joint — A joint between two members aligned approximately in the same plane.
Butyrate dope — A finish for aircraft fabric consisting of a film base of cellulose fibers dissolved in solvents with the necessary plasticizers, solvent, and thinners.
-C- Cable (electrical) — Assembly of one or more conductors within an enveloping protective sheath so constructed as to permit use of conductors separately or in a group.
Calibration — A set of operations, performed in accordance with a definite document procedure, which compares the measurements performed by an instrument or standard, for the purpose of detecting and reporting, or eliminating by adjustment, errors in the instrument tested.
Center of gravity — That point about which the aircraft would balance if suspended. For field weight and balance purposes/control, the center of gravity is normally calculated only along its longitudinal axis (nose to tail), disregarding both the lateral and vertical location.
Certification — Implies that a certificate is in existence, which certifies or states a qualification.
Check — A lengthwise separation of the wood, the greater part of which occurs across the rings of annual growth.
Chemical conversion coating (Specification MIL-C-81706) — Is a chemical surface treatment used on aluminum alloys to inhibit corrosion and to provide a proper surface for paint finishing.
Chord — An imaginary straight line joining the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil.
Circuit — A closed path or mesh of closed paths usually including a source of EMF.
Circuit breaker — A protective device for opening a circuit automatically when excessive current is flowing through it.
Close-grained wood — Wood with narrow and inconspicuous annual rings. The term is sometimes used to designate wood having small and closely spaced pores, but in this sense the term “fine-textured” is more often used.
Coil shot — Production of longitudinal magnetization accomplished by passing current through a coil encircling the part being inspected.
Appendix 1 Compass — A device used to determine direction on the Earth’s surface. A magnetic compass utilizes the Earth’s magnetic field to establish direction.
Compression wood — Identified by its relatively wide annual rings, usually eccentric, and its relatively large amount of summer wood, usually more than 50 percent of the width of the annual rings in which it occurs. Compression wood shrinks excessively lengthwise as compared with normal wood.
Conductor — A wire or other material suitable for conducting electricity.
Conduit — A rigid metallic or nonmetallic casing, or a flexible metallic casing covered with a woven braid or synthetic rubber used to encase electrical cables.
Contact — Electrical connectors in a switch, solenoid or relay that controls the flow of current.
Control panel — An upright panel, open or closed, where switches, rheostats, meters, etc., are installed for the control and protection of electrical machinery.
Corrosion — The electrochemical deterioration of a metal resulting from chemical reaction to the surrounding environment.
Crack — Is a partial separation of material caused by vibration, overloading, internal stresses, nicks, defective assemblies, fatigue, or rapid changes in temperature.
Creepage — Is the conducting of electrical current along a surface between two points at different potentials. The current’s ability to pass between two points increases with higher voltage and when deposits of moisture or other conductive materials exist on the surfaces.
Cross grain — Grain not parallel with the axis of a piece. It may be either diagonal or spiral grain or a combination of the two.
Cross coat — A double coat of dope or paint. It is sprayed on in one direction, and then immediately after the solvent flash-off, it is sprayed at right angles to the first coat.
Cure — To change the properties of a thermosetting resin irreversibly by vulcanization or chemical reaction. May be accomplished by the addition of curing (cross-linking) agents, with or without a catalyst, and with or without heat or pressure.
Curing temperature — Temperature to which a resin or an assembly is subjected in order to cure the resin.
Cutting torch — A device used in gas cutting of metals.
Appendix 1 -D- Damping — Limiting the duration of vibration by either electrical or mechanical means.
Data — Information that supports and/or describes the original aircraft design, alteration or repair, including the following: (1) drawings, sketches, and or photographs; (2) engineering analysis; (3) engineering orders; and (4) operating limitations.
Datum — Imaginary vertical plane from which all horizontal measurements are made or indicated when the aircraft is in level flight attitude.
Derating — Is a technique whereby a part is stressed in actual usage at values well below the manufacturer’s rating for the part. By decreasing mechanical, thermal, and electrical stresses, the probability of degradation or catastrophic failure is lessened.
Direct current electrode negative — The arrangement of direct current arc welding leads in which the work is the positive pole and the electrode is the negative pole of the welding arc.
Direct current electrode positive — The arrangement of direct current arc welding leads in which the work is the negative pole and the electrode is the positive pole of the welding arc.
Discontinuity — An interruption in the normal physical structure or configuration of a part, such as a crack, lap, seam, inclusion, or porosity.
Distal tip — The tip, lens end, of a borescope.
Dope — Liquid applied to fabric to tauten it by shrinking, strengthen it, and render it airtight by acting as a filler.
Dope-proofing — Protecting a surface from the chemicals and chafing qualities of dope and doped fabrics.
Drape — The ability of tape and broad goods to conform to a contoured shape.
Drip loop — A bundle installation method used to prevent water or other fluid contaminants from running down the wiring into a connector.
Dry rot — A term loosely applied to many types of wood decay but especially to that which, when in an advanced stage, permits the wood to be easily crushed to a dry powder. The term is actually a misnomer for any decay, since all fungi require considerable moisture for growth.
Dwell time — The total time that a penetrant, emulsifier (or remover), or developer remains on the surface of the test part.
Dye penetrant inspection — An inspection method for surface cracks in which a penetrating dye is allowed to enter any cracks present and is pulled out of the crack by an absorbent developer. A crack appears as a line on the surface of the developer.
Appendix 1 -E- Edge grain — Edge-grain lumber has been sawed parallel with the pith of the log and approximately at right angles to the growth rings; that is, the rings form an angle of 45 degrees or more with the surface of the piece.
Electricity — One of the fundamental quantities in nature consisting of elementary particles, electrons and protons, which are manifested as a force of attraction or repulsion, and also in work that can be performed when electrons are caused to move; a material agency which, when in motion, exhibits magnetic, chemical, and thermal effects, and when at rest is accompanied by an interplay of forces between associated localities in which it is present.
Electromagnet — Temporary magnet which is magnetized by sending current through a coil of wire wound around an iron core.
Electromagnetic Interference/Radio-Frequency Interference (EMI/RFI) — Frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation extending from subsonic frequency to X-rays. This term should not be used in place of the term radio-frequency interference (RFI). (See radio frequency interference.) Shielding materials for the entire EMI spectrum are not readily available.
Electromotive force (EMF) — Difference of electrical potential measured in volts.
Electron — A negative charge that revolves around the nucleus of an atom; a unit of a negative electrical charge.
Electronics — General term that describes the branch of electrical science and technology that treats the behavior and effects of electron emission and transmission.
Electron Volt (eV) — A unit of energy equal to the energy acquired by an electron falling though potential differences of one volt, approximately 1.602X 10-19 joule.
Emulsion-type cleaner — A chemical cleaner which mixes with water or petroleum solvent to form an emulsion (a mixture which will separate if allowed to stand). It is used to loosen dirt, soot, or oxide films from the surface of an aircraft.
Epoxy — One of various usually thermosetting resins capable of forming tight cross-linked polymer structures marked by toughness, strong adhesion, high corrosion, and chemical resistance, used especially in adhesives and surface coating.
Epoxy primer — A two-part catalyzed material used to provide a good bond between a surface and a surface coating.
Epoxy resin — A common thermosetting resin which exhibits exceptionally good adhesion, low cure shrinkage, and low water-absorption properties.
Erosion — Loss of metal from metal surfaces by the action of small particles such as sand or water.
Appendix 1 ETFE — Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (frequently referred to by the trade name, TEFZEL), a copolymer of PTFE and polyethylene.
Exciter — Small generator for supplying direct current to the alternator’s field windings.
Exfoliation corrosion — A form of intergranular corrosion that attacks extruded metals along their layer-like grain structure.
Expandable sleeving — Open-weave braided sleeving used to protect wire and cables from abrasion and other hazards (commonly known by trade name EXPANDO).
-F- FEP — Fluorinated ethylene propylene (commonly known by the trade name, TEFLON). A melt extrudable fluorocarbon resin, very similar in appearance and performance to PTFE, but with a maximum temperature rating of 200 °C.
Ferrous metal — Iron, or any alloy containing iron.
Fiberglass —The most common material used to reinforce structures in home-built and experimental aircraft. Available as mat, roving, fabric, etc. It is incorporated into both thermoset and thermoplastic resins. The glass fibers increase mechanical strength, impact resistance, stiffness, and dimensional stability of the matrix.
Fill — Threads in a fabric that run crosswise of the woven material.
Filiform corrosion — A thread, or filament-like corrosion which forms on aluminum skins beneath the finish.
Finish — External coating or covering of an aircraft or part.
Flat grain — Lumber has been sawed parallel with the pith of the log and approximately tangent to the growth rings; that is, the rings form an angle of less than 45 degrees with the surface of the piece.
Fluorescent — A substance is said to be fluorescent when it will glow or fluoresce when excited by ultraviolet light. Some types of dye-penetrant material use fluorescent dyes which are pulled from the cracks by a developer and observed under “black” ultraviolet light.
Flux — Materials used to prevent, dissolve, or facilitate removal of oxides and other undesirable surface substances. Also, the name for magnetic fields.
Fretting corrosion — Corrosion damage between close-fitting parts which are allowed to rub together. The rubbing prevents the formation of protective oxide films and allows the metals to corrode.
Fuse — A protective device containing a special wire that melts when current exceeds the rated value for a definite period.
Appendix 1 Functional check — This test may require the use of appropriate test equipment.
-G- Galvanic corrosion — Corrosion due to the presence of dissimilar metals in contact with each other.
Gas cylinder — A portable container used for transportation and storage of a compressed gas.
Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) — An arc welding process which produces coalescence of metals by heating them with an arc between a tungsten (nonconsumable) electrode and the work.
Shielding is obtained from a gas or gas mixture. Pressure may or may not be used and filler metal may or may not be used.
Generator — A device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Global positioning system (GPS) — A navigation system that employs satellite transmitted signals to determine the aircraft’s location.
Grain — The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood or metal.
Grain-diagonal —Annual rings in wood at an angle with the axis of a piece as a result of sawing at an angle with the bark of the tree.
Grommet — An insulating washer that protects the sides of holes through which wires must pass/or a metal or plastic drain attached to fabric on aircraft.
Gross weight — The total weight of the aircraft including its contents.
Grounding — The term is usually applied to a particular form of bonding that is the process of electrically connecting conductive objects to either conductive structure or some other conductive return path for the purpose of safely completing either a normal or fault circuit.
-H through L- Harness — A cable harness is a group of cables or wires securely tied as a unit.
Honeycomb — Manufactured product consisting of a resin-impregnated sheet or metal material which has been corrugated or expanded into hexagon-shaped and other structural-shaped cells.
Primarily used as core material for sandwich constructions.
Inductance (L) — The ability of a coil or conductor to oppose a change in current flow.
Insulator — A material that will not conduct current to an appreciable degree.
Integrated circuit — Small, complete circuit built up by vacuum deposition and other techniques, usually on a silicon chip, and mounted in a suitable package.
Appendix 1 Intergranular corrosion — The formation of corrosion along the grain boundaries within a metal alloy.
Interlocked-grained wood — Wood in which the fibers are inclined in one direction in a number of rings of annual growth, then gradually reverse and are inclined in an opposite direction in succeeding growth rings, then reverse again.
Inverter — A device for converting direct current to alternating current.
Laminate — A product obtained by bonding two or more laminae of the same material or of different materials.
Laminated wood — A piece of wood built up of plies or laminations that have been joined either with glue or with mechanical fastenings. The term is most frequently applied where the plies are too thick to be classified as veneer and when the grain of all plies is parallel.
Leakage field — The magnetic field forced out into the air by the distortion of the field within a part, caused by the presence of a discontinuity or change in section configuration.
Linter — The short fiber left on the cotton seed after ginning.
Localizer — That section of an ILS that produces the directional reference beam.
LORAN (long-range navigation) — A radio navigation system utilizing master and slave stations transmitting timed pulses. The time difference in reception of pulses from several stations establishes a hyperbolic line of position that may be identified on a LORAN chart. By utilizing signals from two pairs of stations, a fix in position is obtained.
-M through O- Magnetic field — The space around a source of magnetic flux in which the effects of magnetism can be determined.
Marker beacon — A radio navigation aid used in an instrument approach to identify distance to the runway. As the aircraft crosses over the marker-beacon transmitter, the pilot receives an accurate indication of the airplane’s distance from the runway through the medium of a flashing light and an aural signal.
Master switch — A switch designed to control all electric power to all circuits in a system.
Moisture content of wood — Weight of the water contained in the wood usually expressed in percentage of the weight of the kiln-dry wood.
Multiconductor cable — Consists of two or more cables or wires, all of which are encased in an outer covering composed of synthetic rubber, fabric, or other material.
Nick — A sharp notch-like displacement of metal surface.
Appendix 1 Nomex braid — NOMEX is the trade name for a high-temperature polyamide thread that is braided over the larger sizes (# 8 gage and larger) of many of the military specification wires. It can be encountered in either an off-white or black/green color.
Normalizing — Reforming of the grain structure of a metal or alloy by proper heat treatment to relieve internal stresses.
Open circuit — An incomplete or broken electrical circuit.
Open-grained wood — Common classification of painters for woods with large pores, such as oak, ash, chestnut, and walnut. Also known as “coarse-textured.”
Operational check — This is an operational test to determine whether a system or component is functioning properly in all aspects in conformance with minimum acceptable manufacture design specifications.
Optical fiber — Any filament or fiber made of dielectric materials that guides light whether or not it is used to transmit signals.
Orifice — Opening through which gas or air flows. It is usually the final opening controlled by a valve.
Oxidizing — Combining oxygen with any other substance. For example, a metal is oxidized when the metal is burned, i.e., oxygen is combined with all the metal or parts of it.
Oxidizing flame —An oxy-fuel gas flame having an oxidizing effect due to excess oxygen.
Oxygen cutting — Cutting metal using the oxygen jet which is added to an oxygen-acetylene flame.
Oxygen regulator — Manually-adjustable device used to reduce cylinder pressure to torch pressure and to keep the pressure constant. They are never to be used as fuel gas regulators.
-P- Peel ply — A layer of resin-free material used to protect a laminate for later secondary bonding (sometimes referred to as a release film).
Pickling — The treatment of a metal surface by an acid to remove surface corrosion.
Pitch — Is the distance, in inches, that a propeller section will move forward in one revolution, or the distance a nut will advance in one revolution of the screw in a single thread.
Pitch distribution — Is the gradual twist in the propeller blade from shank to tip.
Pitted — Small irregular shaped cavities in the surface of the parent material usually caused by corrosion, chipping, or heavy electrical discharge.
Pitting — The formation of pockets of corrosion products on the surface of a metal.