Airplane tool kits

[NorthIdahoAvidflyer 374]

Our flight last weekend was saved twice with a well prepared member (The Machinist) with a tool good kit. 

I would love to hear what you guy have for tool and supplies in the plane during trips. I have started a list and want to make sure I don't miss something important.

 

[chopndrag 226]

I have a survival knife that has a flashlight, seatbelt cutter , flint and starter, window breaker. I also have general tools in my baggage compartment that are a flat and Phillips screwdriver, socket set and ratchet adjustable wrench , zip ties , safety wire, spark plugs and a couple other things

[akflyer 1427]

Mine is pretty much what C&D has.  metric end wrenches 8-17 mm.  Standards 3/8-5/8.  Same with socket set in 1/4" drive.  Good multi bit screw driver, good adjustable wrench.  Pretty much a tool to fit every nut and bolt on the plane / engine.  I also have a small container of the safety pins, cotter keys, a few different nuts, bolts and washers.  Fuses, shrink wrap, black tape, etc.  After having a wire rub and loosing my radio I started keeping a few things in there to be able to set down and do a few field repairs if needed on the electrical system.  I keep the tools in a small back pack that's shoved to the rear of my baggage area.  

Over kill?? perhaps if I was just flying local.  A lot of my flights quickly get "remote" as I am sure yours do as well so a couple pounds of tools that might get me back home is worth it.

Does not hurt to toss in a couple extra exhaust springs either although you can hold it together with a few wraps of safety wire but it wont last long (trust me).

 

[Yamma-Fox 403]

What stuff saved the day for you guys on that trip vance? 

[NorthIdahoAvidflyer 374]

Wrenches, screwdrivers, safety wire. If we would have had an assortment of bolts and hose clamps we would not have had to scrounge for stuff. 

[Yamma-Fox 403]

On my snowmo I zip tie a bag with rarely used stuff (spare bolts, zipties, ect) to the frame.  Saves having it in the storage area taking space - bouncing around- in the way.

Think I'll do that in the plane too.

Couple add-ons to stuff mentioned: vise grips, gorilla tape, elect wire and crimp splices, hack saw blade, 2 magnetic attach flashlights, coat hangar / bailing wire.

Outback and on overnights  I carry a lithium  pocket jump start pack.  

 

[NorthIdahoAvidflyer 374]

I have been looking at tool bags to start making my kit. I have collected a few items. My first purchase was a multi-screwdriver. I like the idea of having a small plastic storage container that holds a few cotter pins, bolts, electrical crimp splices and such. Vise grips are a great addition to any tool kit. Well all know you can fix anything with gorilla tape and zip ties...LOL!  I know a guy who duct taped a Luscomb back together and flew it home after he flipped it and about tore it in half.

,

 

[wypaul 448]

I had one of my semi' drop a driveline, lost the nut off the input shaft and was able to repair well cobble it together with some 1/4" nylon rope and drive it from Bozeman MT to Casper but that is a story for another place!!!