Tried safety wire versus those new plastic zip ties on a Pratt & Whitney engine last week

I used the plastic zip ties on a fan cowling and found one melted halfway through three days later, so I will stick to safety wire even if it takes twice as long, has anyone else had zip ties fail on hot sections?

2 comments

2 Comments

wade_anderson12d ago

Caught a nylon zip tie on an exhaust duct once. It turned into a little puddle of melted plastic before I even got the cowling closed. Safety wire might be a pain to thread but at least it doesn't disappear when things get hot.

paulnguyen12d ago

Caught one of those zip ties turning into a sad little plastic worm on a bleed air line once. Looked like a melted gummy worm from a hot car dashboard. Safety wire might make you want to stab your own eyes out after the tenth loop, but at least it won't liquify and leave you explaining to the lead why there's a puddle where your fastener used to be. Guess some things just can't be improved with cheap plastic lol.