FAA Aviation Mechanic General (AMG)Regulations, Records and Human FactorsMedium
A shop manager tells a technician, 'The customer is waiting at the airport — get this engine back together in the next 20 minutes.' The technician skips a torque check to save time. Which Dirty Dozen factor is the primary cause of the error?
- AComplacency
- BPressure
- CStress
- DFatigue
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Pressure
Pressure refers to real or perceived demands (often time- or production-related) placed on a technician by others, causing shortcuts. Here the manager's deadline is an external time pressure driving the skipped step.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Complacency involves false confidence from routine, not an externally imposed deadline.
- C. Stress is internal mental/emotional strain, which may result from pressure but is not the direct cause described.
- D. Fatigue is physical tiredness from lack of rest, not mentioned here.
Pressure (Dirty Dozen)
A human factor in which real or perceived demands (schedules, customers, management) push a technician to rush or take shortcuts.
- Often driven by schedules, customers, or management
- Can lead to skipped steps or incomplete inspections
- Mitigated by realistic scheduling and empowering technicians to say 'not yet ready'
Memory trick: 'Pressure pushes shortcuts' — deadlines squeeze out safety steps.