Air Force Technical Sgt. Adam J. Santos, right, with Col. Amanda Sheets of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.
TECHNICAL Sgt. Adam J. Santos, who was born on Saipan, was awarded the Air and Space Achievement Medal on Oct. 17, 2024 for the role he played in preventing a “catastrophic main landing gear failure.”
Santos is with the 19th Maintenance Group of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.
According to the Air Force, while he was conducting a “time compliance technical order verification,” Santos saw that a “newly installed vertical shaft assembly retaining ring was not fully seated within the groove of the top quick disconnect coupling.”
The Air Force stated that it “was physically impossible for the ring to seat properly within the coupling nut without an additional relief cut into the component.”
Santos brought this to the attention of the Maintenance Group and “adamantly advised” that the modification was unsafe for flight.
“His firm stance drove an investigation that led to the discovery of a critical manufacturer defect that halted the C-130 modification across the entire Air Force in less than 14 hours from his initial discovery,” the Air Force stated. “His proactive approach prevented foreign object damage that would have led to catastrophic main landing gear failure on any of the 434 C-130 aircraft that were selected for modification. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Santos reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
Santos said his action on that day brought him peace of mind.
“As a quality assurance inspector, it helps me go to bed at night knowing that I helped mitigate something that could’ve risked aircraft damage and, more importantly, the lives of the airmen who fly our aircraft,” he told Variety.
Santos believes he could be in the military for 20 more years, but that he has an “open mind” to other opportunities that may come his way.
In the meantime, he would like to “continue developing my other maintainers to inspect aircraft like a fine-toothed comb.”
“At the end of the day, safety and the people flying these planes are always a priority,” he said.
Airman Santos is the son of Benito A. Santos and Michelle D. Santos.
