"Two deployments almost complete, just one more to go." Those were
the thoughts I had as I found myself dressing out in the appropriate
gear for one more aircraft wash in Panama. "Just two more weeks
and I would be reunited with family back home" ran through my
head as I pulled my rubber boots on over my feet. The weather was
good and we were finally getting a short break from the busy flight
schedule.
The aircraft was already prepared for us as my crew dutifully
moved into position to begin the task at hand. A fellow Lieutenant
and I moved an aircraft stand into position behind the starboard
flap to begin washing the aft portion of the upper wing. Once our
task was complete, I proceeded to the ladder of the stand in order
to lower it. The other Lieutenant was still positioned on the stand
as I turned the valve to release the hydraulic pressure holding the
stand in the raised position. As I turned the valve I expected the
stand to begin slowly lowering itself. I was a bit surprised when it
did not move. I twisted the valve another turn with the same lack of
results. "Okay" I thought to myself. I must not be
twisting this valve enough, so I really gave it one last turn. In a
split second, the stand dropped from its fixed position in the air,
all the way down to its lowest level. Besides the surprise I
received from seeing the stand drop so quickly, I also received an
intense but fleeting pressure on my right foot. I looked down to
find that the rubber boot I was wearing had been peeled from the top
half of my foot and was now flopping in the breeze.
I quickly realized what had just occurred. I had been standing on
the ladder with my feet extending through the steps as I had begun
twisting the valve. As the stand dropped, it brought with it the
other half of the stands steps, which caught my right foot. I had
just nearly guillotined half of my foot. Fortunately for me, there
is about a three-inch gap between the two sets of steps, which had
allowed my foot to bend through as the stand dropped. Had this gap
not been there, I am sure that my homecoming would have been under
different circumstances.
After the initial shock had worn off, I began to analyze how this
situation had occurred. I had been so preoccupied with other
thoughts that I had let my guard down and not even noticed the
warning placard located on the stand about twelve inches from where
I was. DO NOT OPERATE WHILE STANDING ON LADDER was clearly displayed
right in front of me and I had not even seen it.
As we continue with our Navy careers, please keep in mind this
story of these two careless Lieutenants. Stay focused at work and
enjoy your liberty during off-duty hours. Mixing the two can create
situations which none of us hope to find ourselves in.
Lt. Adams wrote this article when assigned as the aviation safety
officer at VP-10. |
