Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #24475
From: kevin lane <n3773@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Brake Line Incident Photos
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 18:27:09 -0700
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Ed - your brake problems have made me rethink my own situation.  after maybe 600 hrs I had the brake line snap off at the fitting.  I didn't give it much thought and just cut a bit off and reflared it, thankful that I had put a generous loop in it originally.  it seemed to me that it had failed more because of that brake pad problems had me disconnecting the line and the nut had started to cut into the line from all the tightening.  with a -6A no brakes is a big deal.  I had to make 270 degree turns in Laramie once when I realized I had no right brake.  other than a personal bias against them, I wonder if the plastic lines are best? I foamed my gear legs, so am not anxious to attempt replacing the brake lines.  my -8 has rifle drilled brake lines thru the center of the gear leg which will be nice.
Kevin Lane  Portland, OR
e-mail-> n3773@comcast.net
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 4:33 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Brake Line Incident Photos

Yes, the aluminum wheel was protected by the steel rotor between the fire and the aluminum wheel hub.  In fact, I could even reuse the inner tube.  Might could have also used the tire, however, it was a bit puckered and decided it just wasn't worth the risk.
 
Ed
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 4:59 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Brake Line Incident Photos

No, I meant the wheel itself.  Is it save? 

Ken Powell
Bryant, Arkansas
501-847-4721
C150 / RV-4
 
-------------- Original message --------------
Not certain to which aluminum you are referring, Ken. 
 
 If you are referring to the wing skin, my best guesstimate is - no.  The paint was sooted but not burnt and when I tapped the skin with a small coin, I got the same tone from the unaffected wing's panel as I did from the one over the fire, so believe the temper of the metal was unaffected.  However, I suspect if the fire had gone on much longer, the story would have been much different.
 
Ed A
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 12:52 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Brake Line Incident Photos

Hi Ed,
Did the wheel get hot enough to affect the strength of the aluminum?

Ken Powell
Bryant, Arkansas
501-847-4721
C150 / RV-4
 
-------------- Original message --------------
For those interested (and may not have seen them) , here are a few photos of my brake line fire incident.
 
  Big chunk got blown out of brake line as can be seen from Brakelines.jpg photo.  Effect of resin burning seen on wheel pant photos.  Once the line broke, the next time I depressed the brake pedal, a fireball from the wheel to over the wing resulted from spraying the hydraulic fluid over the hot brake assembly.  The flash point of the fluid is only 240F!  I am going to investigate some stuff with a bit higher flash point {:>)
 
 
Ed
 
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com


>>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
Subscribe (FEED) Subscribe (DIGEST) Subscribe (INDEX) Unsubscribe Mail to Listmaster