From: CasaDeHate@aol.com
Message-ID: <4e.115dc313.27b93a86@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 08:09:26 EST
Subject: Lancair Brake failure
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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If your training did not discuss or at least pose the possibility, then think 
about it now, and the next time you go fly practice the loss of one side or 
the other.  I've had brake failure's on both the IV and 360, and did no 
damage to either.

I don't care if you put the most expensive brake lines you can find in the 
airplane , "Murphy's law" says that if something can go wrong it will.    
That understood, consider that I teach that once the airplane is firmly on 
the runway, reach up and test the brakes to make sure you still have some, 
and if not add power and go around.  
One owner had a "slight" brake fluid leak in the cabin, and thought nothing 
of it until landing at Santa Paula and running into a dirt hill to stop the 
airplane, costing them a prop and a little pride.  The problem was that when 
they pressurized the cabin, the pressure went through that "slight" leak and 
pushed all the fluid into the reservoir and eventually overboard through the 
vent.  I think Murphy was riding along on that flight.

Anyway, if you determine that you have a bad brake sometimes pumping them 
will restore enough force to stop you, if not, once airborne again try the 
brakes from the co-pilot side since the fluid goes from the pilot to co-pilot 
side before the wheel cyl's.  If you're unable to muster up any stopping 
power go find the widest runway you can, and hopefully one with a stiff 
crosswind.  We have plenty of rudder authority down to about a fast trot so 
logic says land with the crosswind on the side of the dead brake and use the 
upwind rudder authority and downwind brake to keep alignment, and eventually 
stopping you on the runway.  Try it, it works..

How many of you have heared me preach "centerline" and "taxi only as fast as 
you want to leave the taxiway", because if you lose a brake taxiing, you're 
in for a ride on the wild side.  Oh yeah, neither of my brake failures had 
anything to do with the nylaflow tubing.

Mike


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