Balance in the force

Staff Sgt. David Crouse, a jet engine mechanic in the F117 shop of Bldg. 3001, sets up a balance machine to test a low pressure turbine. The machine tests various sections of the engine, including the low pressure compressor. Sgt. Crouse is the first military mechanic here certified to balance the low pressure compressor and is working toward getting his certification on the other engine sections. The F117 powers the C-17 aircraft and is maintained at Tinker by members of the 545th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

‘Balance’ comes with total force

Published April 13, 2012
By Mike W. Ray
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A milestone was reached recently in the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group.

In the Tinker AFB Propulsion Engine Division, the balancing of major jet engine components, such as turbines and compressors, historically has been performed by civilian employees. However, the Propulsion Division now has its first active-duty military member certified to balance components.

He is Staff Sgt. David Crouse of the 545th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron, assigned to the F117 engine line.

The sergeant was certified earlier this year after a few weeks of on-the-job training. He transferred to Tinker from Aviano Air Base in Italy a year and a half ago, and joined the F117 maintenance unit last November.

A group of about 30 military personnel from the 76th PMXG was assigned to different sections last year, Sergeant Crouse said. "I picked the F117 engine balance unit because I wanted to see how it worked."

In February, "after I felt comfortable with what I was doing" - assembling, tearing down, and balancing F117 jet engines - the sergeant told his supervisor, Bob Scott, work leader in the F117 horizontal balance center, "and he watched me do this on my own."

Sensors in engine test stands "tell you where any imbalance is, and precisely how much," Sergeant Crouse said. To correct an imbalance, small weights are riveted, bolted or placed between blades to equalize the weight.

The sergeant is certified to operate the machine that balances the turbines and compressors on an F117 engine. Certification is a federal government requirement, Mr. Scott said.

"I've been doing this for over 30 years, and I checked with some folks who were here as far back as 1963, and no one knows of any other active-duty military person getting this certification," Mr. Scott said. Several years ago an Air Force reservist was certified in the rotor shop, but Sergeant Crouse is the first active-duty military person to be certified. "He's an excellent worker," Mr. Scott added.

Sergeant Crouse, 27, a Limon, Colo., native, said he has tinkered with engines for many years and intended to be a mechanic when he enlisted in the Air Force eight years ago.