Ground Ops
A Dropped Dipstick Is Runway FOD
A dipstick left on a wing once fell onto the runway during take-off – always account for it; it belongs only in your hand or in the aircraft.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Fuel dipsticks left on trailers, aircraft cowlings or wings create a real safety risk. On one occasion, a dipstick left on top of a wing fell onto the runway during take-off. Thankfully no aircraft was damaged, but it wasn't discovered until the following morning – lying on the centreline.
Always account for the dipstick during and after use. It should only ever be in your hand or back in the aircraft – never left anywhere else.