Where was he taking it apart? I do it in basement and drop small parts all the time, Sometimes they are right in sight but--- I get down on the floor with flashlite, shine it so it lights a path along the floor and look in the beam at floor level, be surprised how they will show up. Once I found a part about a year later, with out really thinking about it but it was way further away then I ever look and was under a tool chest! In the mean time I had replaced it. Had a buddy who took them apart in back yard on a picnic bench. I'll bet even today, with one of those roll around magnets roofers use you could find enough parts in his yard to start a repair shop! hehehe.
You can never go home again.