Matronics Email List Photo Share


If you wish to submit a Photo Share of your own, please include the following information along with your email message and files:

1) Email List or Lists that they are related to:
2) Your Full Name:
3) Your Email Address:
4) One line Subject description:
5) Multi-line, multi-paragraph description of topic:
6) One-line Description of each photo or file:

Email pictures and files along with the information above to:

pictures@matronics.com

Please note that the adding of your files to the Photo Share Directory is a semi-manual process and will take a few days to become available. A message will be posted to the Email List(s) you indicated in #1 above with a link to the new Photo Share when it is available.

To view other Photo Share's members have submitted, have a look at the main Photo Share Index Page:

http://www.matronics.com/photoshare
Matt Dralle
Email List Administrator



Submitted By:   eanderson@carolina.rr.com
Email List:   RV-List,RV3-List,RV4-List,RV6-List,RV7-List,RV8-List,RV9-List,RV10-List
Name:   

Ed Anderson

Date:   

Jul 2 2005

Subject:   Brake Line Failure
Description:   

I had a brake line failure on my RV-6A which resulted in fire and could have resulted in loss of the aircraft. My RV was completed in 1998 and had the standard aluminum tube brakelines complete with the stress relieving loop before the caliper. Approx. 300 landings with 95% on hard surface the remainder on grass strips.

I had started my take off roll (5000 ft hard surface) and had attained approx. 40-50mph when I decided to abort due to an engine miss. I chop the power approx. 1/4 - 1/3 way down the runway and let the aircraft continue down the runway losing momentum with modest braking near the mid way point. I continued on down to the far end and started a right turn - that was the point I first noticed that the right brake seemed just a tad mushy. I completed my turn and was taxing back to the mid point taxiway and gunned the engine to see if it was still missing. All appeared OK until I pushed on the right rudder to correct the aircraft which was drifting to the left - no effective response - but airspeed was low so I depressed the toe brake - again NO response! and pedal "goes to the floor."

Aircraft is now veering off the left side of the runway and I briefly considered adding power to try and use the rudder to blow the nose straight - but decided that I did not want more speed with the situation. So other than killing the engine and using the starter to get the prop horizontal, I was along for the ride as the aircraft departed the runway and ended up in a shallow (lucky for me and the aircraft) ditch.

I shut off all the electrical and fuel switches and popped the canopy whereupon, my nephew who had been watching the take off announced that the aircraft was on fire. (He video the aborted take off and the return from the far end of the runway where he caught the large fireball that occurred when I depressed the brake pedal and blew hydraulic fluid over the hot brake pads. I was somewhat surprised at the low flash point of aircraft hydraulic fluid - around 240F) At the same time, I smelled burning resin and hastily exited the aircraft. The right main gear wheel pant was on fire with the resin burning. My quick thinking nephew found a fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. Rest of my family helped get the aircraft out of the ditch and back to the parking area.

Attached are several photos of the results. It appears that the brake line failed due to Fatigue with a long chunk blown out of one side.

The only permanent damage appears to be to the tire and wheel pant. The tire was a brand new Michelin (sob!) and although puckered by the heat still remained inflated. Thoroughly clean the entire wheel and brake assembly, replace the piston "O" ring and replace the brake line with stainless steel braided brake hose. I was concerned about the effect of the heat on the rear bottom skin panel but tapping it with a coin produced the same tone as the other side of the wing - so I concluded it was not damaged.

Flew home without further incident.

Strongly recommend anyone with the aluminum lines check for damage or leaks. The line could have failed due to stress during installation, material defect, or unnoticed damaged someplace along the way. But, the way the line has an approx 1" chunk blow out from the side which indicates metal fatigue to me.

Best Regards

Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC

 
    Brakeline2.jpg Photo 1
    Brakeline.jpg Photo 2
    MePant.jpg Photo 3
    pantInside.jpg Photo 4
    pant.jpg Photo 5





Other Matronics Email List Services

  • UN/SUBSCRIBE
  •   http://www.matronics.com/subscription
  • Full Archive Search Engine
  •   http://www.matronics.com/search
  • 7-Day List Browsing
  •   http://www.matronics.com/browse
  • Browse the List Digests
  •   http://www.matronics.com/digest
  • Live Online Chat!
  •   http://www.matronics.com/chat
  • Archive Downloading
  •   http://www.matronics.com/archives
  • Photo Share
  •   http://www.matronics.com/photoshare
  • Other Email Lists
  •   http://www.matronics.com/emaillists
  • Contributions
  •   http://www.matronics.com/contributions

    These Email List Services are sponsored through the generous contributions of its members.

    -- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --