Hi Bob,
Hi Bob,
In my case I followed the plans exactly, the apparent cause was fatique
of
the aluminum tubing which on the old RV-6A kits was bent to wrap around
the
gear leg to provide some "flex" as brake calipers worked in an out.
Mine
blew out a chuck of the tubing wall approx 1" long and 1/2 the
circumference
of the tube. I mean the line did not just break at a point; it
fractured
and blew out this segment.
Here is a photo of the tubing. You can see the long piece of the
sidewall
taken out. There are several possibilities about why it broke. It had
been
in use for 5 years and over 250 hours of flying time, numerous landings.
1. Material defect - possible but unlikely after 300 hours
2. Tubing damaged (rock or something) - again possible, but there was
no
evidence of a dent or scratch that I could see
3. Possibly I work harden the aluminum tubing as I bent the loop around
the
axis.
But, in any case, my nephew was taking a video when the line broke and a
fire ball rose above the wing when the fluid ignited - exciting times
commenced at that point. That was the same instant my right brake
peddle
went to the floor and I ended up exiting the runway - fortunately into a
shallow ditch - managed to get the prop turned horizontal before hitting
it.
So damage was limited to my brand new Michelin tire and tube and the
wheel
pant.
I have heard of several similar incidents - few when you consider the
thousands of Rvs out there with aluminum tubing - however, take it from
me
once, is more than enough if it happens to you.
Best Regards
Ed
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com
http://www.andersonee.com
http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
http://www.flyrotary.com/
http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
http://www.rotaryaviation.com/Rotorhead%20Truth.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-rv-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-rv-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Panama Red
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:54 AM
To: rv-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Brake Fire wasBrakes
I think I might have missed something. Why are so many RVs having brake
fires, requiring the redesign of the entire brake system?
I have been flying my RV for 8 years with the brakes built exactly to
the
plans. Just wondering, should I ground my RV and redesign the entire
brake
system?
Bob
RV 6 "Wicked Witch of the West"
----- Original Message -----
From: <dave.gribble@mchsi.com>
To: <rv-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: Brake Fire wasBrakes
>
> Hi Ed - thanks for posting.... can you post the part number / source /
> approximate $$ of the thicker rotors?
>
> Thanks again,
>
> dave
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Ed Anderson" <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
>>
<eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
>>
>> I whole heartedly agree with Ed Holyoke about replacing the
MIL-H_5606
>> with
>> the Mil-H-8328. Being one of those who had experience with a brake
fluid
>> fire while using the older MIL-H_5606, I never realized until after
the
>> incident that its' flash point was just a bit above the boiling point
of
>> water. Fortunately I only lost a wheel pant an tube/tire out of
the
>> incident.
>>
>> I also replace the aluminum tubes ( the side of the right brake line
blew
>> a
>> chunk out and sprayed the hot rotor with brake fluid) with stainless
>> steel
>> braided brake lines and replace the brake rotors with a set that had
>> double
>> the thickness of the standard RV brake rotor. Doubling the mass with
the
>> same amount of heat effectively reduces the temperature of the mass.
>>
>> The thicker rotors provided an unexpected side benefit in that brake
fade
>> even after a hard stop is gone and the pads wear more evenly and last
>> longer.
>>
>> But, of all my changes the switch to the MIL-H-8328 is the cheapest
and
>> probably the most effective in reducing probably of brake fluid fire.
>>
>> YMMV
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> Ed Anderson
>>
>> Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
>>
>> Matthews, NC
>>
>> eanderson@carolina.rr.com
>>
>> http://www.andersonee.com
>>
>> http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
>>
>> http://www.flyrotary.com/
>>
>> http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
>>
>> http://www.rotaryaviation.com/Rotorhead%20Truth.htm
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-rv-list-server@matronics.com
>> [mailto:owner-rv-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ed Holyoke
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 1:36 AM
>> To: rv-list@matronics.com
>> Subject: Re: Brakes
>>
>>
>> And Viton O-rings at the calipers. They're rated for higher temps.
>>
>> Pax,
>>
>> Ed Holyoke
>>
>> Kelly McMullen wrote:
>> >
>> > If you mean Mil 5606, consider an improvement:
>> > "Standard" brake fluid for GA aircraft is MIL-H-5606. This fluid
has
>> > been around forever and works fine, but can be improved upon.
>> > MIL-H-83282 was introduced a few years back and is a synthetic
>> > upgrade. It performs better in every regard, but of special
interest
>> > is the flash point. 5606 has a flash point of around 225=B0 whereas
>> > 83282 is around 425=B0. This can be a factor with RVs because there
have
>> > been several reported cases of brake fires on RVs and some have
taken
>> > the whole aircraft with it. Do yourself a favor, upgrade the
standard
>> > MIL-H-5606 to MIL-H-83282: Royco 782 or Aero Shell 31.
>> >
>> > Tom Gummo wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On the non pressure side, they are nice as you can see if there is
>> >> RED fluid in the lines.
>> >>
>> >> Tom Gummo
>> >> Harmon Rocket II
>> >> 370 hours and still smiling.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelly McMullen"
>> >> <kellym@aviating.com>
>> >> To: <rv-list@matronics.com>
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6:32 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: Brakes
>> >>
>> >>
<kellym@aviating.com>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://www.bonacoinc.com/
>> >>> I believe they have kits for your RV, but the website has little
>> >>> info beyond what hose and fittings they have available.
>> >>>
>> >>> Norman Hunger wrote:
>> >>>> Hi everybody, I'm poking around my long dormant resurrected kit
and
>> >>>> noticing the right side optional brake pedal lines are white
>> >>>> plastic. Does any one sell a kit to do this with nicer lines?
Can
>> >>>> small AN fittings be used here?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I was reading about a brake pedal improvement where the short
pivot
>> >>>> point bolts are replaced with AN3-60 bolts. The result is one
bolt
>> >>>> all the way across the bottom of the pedal instead of a single
bolt
>> >>>> on each side. The better alignment of the single bolt shaft
reduces
>> >>>> the possibility of binding and makes the pedals operate
smoother.
>> >>>> Is this true?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I also read some time back about one complaining about draggy
>> >>>> brakes and the need to upgrade the springs on the master
cylinders
>> >>>> for stronger ones. Is this true?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> And what about the brakes? My Vans wheels and brakes and tires
are
>> >>>> now about ten years old. Is it worth while to install Grove
wheels
>> >>>> and brakes? Do they work better?
>> >>>> http://www.groveaircraft.com/56-1a.html
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Who makes the best tires?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Thanks for your support....
>> >>>> Norman Hunger
>> >>>> RV6A Delta BC
>> >>>> Do not archive
>> >>>> Nov 17-09 - 15
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of
virus
>> >>> signature database 4615 (20091117) __________
>> >>>
>> >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>> signature
>> database 3267 (20080714) __________
>>
>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature
database 3267 (20080714) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature
database 3267 (20080714) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
