JUST A LITTLE PART
A mechanic working under an aircraft noticed a small leak from the forward lavatory. Having just completed the repair of a more sophisticated mechanical malfunction that had threatened to delay the on-time departure of the plane, the mechanic decided the little drip could wait until the plane landed at the next airport. The plane took off, and the little drip kept dripping. And, as liquid is known to do at very cold temperatures, the drips began to freeze. The little drip turned into a big chunk of ice. At 650 miles per hour, the chunk of ice broke off from the fuselage and slammed into one of the engines. The resulting impact from all those little drips-turned-brick caused the engine to self-destruct and rip right off the plane. After an emergency but safe landing, officials determined the part that could have prevented the nearly catastrophic mishap was a little rubber washer. More than a hundred lives were put at risk,…
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