Security check at airport turns up a switch blade knife that mechanic had in tool box.

Attributes
ACN	223867
Time
Date	199210
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : yyz
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 170
ASRS Report	223867
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was notified at XA00 am by the company I worked for that they needed someone to recover an aircraft that had mechanical failure in ny. My flight departed from cvg at AM45 that morning. So I had little time to prepare. The problem arose when I was going through check point. The security guard asked to check my tool box. I said ok. She inspected my screwdrivers, wrenches, calculator, and other items when she found an old switch blade knife. In my trade I require a knife on many occasions to perform my duties. There was no evil intent upon my part. It was just another tool to me, I always carried my tool box with me, because there was no means to lock it. It was also pointless for me to make the trip if my tools did not arrive with me. The security guard, upon finding the knife, immediately called the police. They came and arrested me. Later they turned me loose. The case was brought before the county and dismissed. I later received a notice from the civil aviation security field unit requesting an explanation. This kind of situation could be avoided when mechanics travel if it is mandatory that tool boxes not be permitted as carry-on's.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SECURITY CHK AT ARPT TURNS UP A SWITCH BLADE KNIFE THAT MECH HAD IN TOOL BOX.

Narrative: I WAS NOTIFIED AT XA00 AM BY THE COMPANY I WORKED FOR THAT THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO RECOVER AN ACFT THAT HAD MECHANICAL FAILURE IN NY. MY FLT DEPARTED FROM CVG AT AM45 THAT MORNING. SO I HAD LITTLE TIME TO PREPARE. THE PROBLEM AROSE WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH CHK POINT. THE SECURITY GUARD ASKED TO CHK MY TOOL BOX. I SAID OK. SHE INSPECTED MY SCREWDRIVERS, WRENCHES, CALCULATOR, AND OTHER ITEMS WHEN SHE FOUND AN OLD SWITCH BLADE KNIFE. IN MY TRADE I REQUIRE A KNIFE ON MANY OCCASIONS TO PERFORM MY DUTIES. THERE WAS NO EVIL INTENT UPON MY PART. IT WAS JUST ANOTHER TOOL TO ME, I ALWAYS CARRIED MY TOOL BOX WITH ME, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MEANS TO LOCK IT. IT WAS ALSO POINTLESS FOR ME TO MAKE THE TRIP IF MY TOOLS DID NOT ARRIVE WITH ME. THE SECURITY GUARD, UPON FINDING THE KNIFE, IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE POLICE. THEY CAME AND ARRESTED ME. LATER THEY TURNED ME LOOSE. THE CASE WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNTY AND DISMISSED. I LATER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY FIELD UNIT REQUESTING AN EXPLANATION. THIS KIND OF SITUATION COULD BE AVOIDED WHEN MECHANICS TRAVEL IF IT IS MANDATORY THAT TOOL BOXES NOT BE PERMITTED AS CARRY-ON'S.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.