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Aligning safety wire holes after torquing

Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice question 19 of 33 on Aircraft Materials, Hardware, and Processes. ACS element AM.I.E.R2 · difficulty: standard. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONA mechanic torques a nut to its recommended value and finds the safety wire holes do not line up. What is the correct action?

  1. ATighten the nut slightly past the recommended value until the holes align
  2. BDo not over torque or loosen the nut; align the holes another way
  3. CBack the nut off a fraction of a turn so the holes align
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Do not over torque or loosen the nut; align the holes another way

  • A — incorrect Over torquing a nut to line up safety wire holes is specifically prohibited.
  • B — correct Parts must be torqued to recommended values with the holes aligned before safetying. A torqued nut is never over torqued or loosened to align safety wire holes.
  • C — incorrect Loosening a torqued nut to align safety wire holes is prohibited just as over torquing is.

BACKGROUND

Safety wiring secures nuts, bolts, and screws so they cannot loosen in flight from vibration. Parts being safety wired should be torqued to recommended values and the holes aligned before the safetying operation is attempted. The handbook states that a torqued nut is never over torqued or loosened to align safety wire holes. The same principle applies to castellated nuts and cotter pins: except for highly stressed engine parts, a nut may not be over torqued to line up the cotter pin holes; instead the hardware is removed and the holes are realigned. Improper torque, in either direction, defeats the purpose of torquing, which is to let each member carry exactly its designed load.

STUDY TIP

Torque first, then align by changing hardware, never by changing the torque.

KEY POINTS

  • Torque to the recommended value and align the holes before safetying.
  • Never over torque a nut to align safety wire holes.
  • Never loosen a torqued nut to align safety wire holes.

SOURCES

  • FAA-H-8083-30B ch07 "Nuts, Bolts, & Screws" (safety wiring)
  • FAA-H-8083-30B ch07 "Cotter Pin Hole Line Up"
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SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on FAA-H-8083-30B Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General, 14 CFR part 43 and part 65. Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.