Apparent brake failure!! Do you take off??
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Ecuador
We were just on a massive grass strip in the middle of nowhere………so luckily the brake-fix was easy to do.
("arcing & sparking" as a figure of speech)
If not, I would not have soloed my 1st time, and my instructor would have helped me upon arrival at our aeroclub without brakes……..for our own strip is a bit of a tight squeeze!! 8 meters wide, and not too long either.
Now with my 40 hours solo, I´m a bit more confident and would be able to do it without brakes………or so I´d like to think.
Yep, I think that´s a bit of a given though!!
I mean, landing is part of most flights………..if everything goes well, that is.
I tend to keep landing in mind as part of my flight planning, in other words "before T /O".
ULH,
At your stage, especially on your first solo, choosing NOT to fly was absolutely correct. With a bit more time and experience behind you you will be better able to exercise judgement on matters like this, but even then, if you are at your home base airfield there wouldn't be many compelling reasons to take to the air with a known defect like this.
At your stage, especially on your first solo, choosing NOT to fly was absolutely correct. With a bit more time and experience behind you you will be better able to exercise judgement on matters like this, but even then, if you are at your home base airfield there wouldn't be many compelling reasons to take to the air with a known defect like this.
Pun intended?
I agree……...
You knew about the 1 C172 suffering from a brake problem………however the 2nd C172 surprised you with a (more serious) break down in flight……
Add the 2 items together, and it may spell disaster!! An accident is always a chain of events as they say, and well done on taking away the 1st link of that particular chain by swapping planes that night!!
Hats off by the way………landing on GPS at night, without any lights!!
It turned out to be an interesting thread.
Keep the stories coming!
###Ultra Long Hauler###
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: USA
Maintenance is no rocket science. You don't need to even read or write to be able to fix brakes on a common type of aircraft.
One doesn't need to be able to read or right to fly an airplane, either, but it surely helps. Whereas one is required to reference to applicable maintenance publications while performing a repair, being able to read is a big plus.
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: USA
Quite a few aircraft need brakes for steering. Brakes are also necessary in the event of a flat or low tire, strong crosswind, holding short of a runway, during a runup, and other occasions.
The fact that an aircraft is certified with brakes should be telling enough.
The fact that an aircraft is certified with brakes should be telling enough.
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: New Zealand
As i'm moving from my 'Slot' i roll forward an inch or two then dab the breaks, one doesn't want to go careering off down the taxi way without the means to stop!... especiaily if it involved chewing the tail off the first A/C in line, or clipping the bowser...... 
Avoid imitations
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Brakes are likely to be needed on any flight so I wouldn't go without them.
My first landing in a taildragger (a Husky) was to the shortest licensed airfield runway in UK (grass) and was from the right hand seat. I had flown in there a few times before in other aircraft so I made sure I landed the aircraft on the numbers, at the placarded airspeed. I had been briefed about it having heel operated brakes, rather than the more common toe brakes but I was surprised that despite my best efforts I didn't notice any real retardation from them (I nearly pushed my heels through the floor as the end of the runway came closer). I could tell that my instructor was began to get a bit agitated but he left me to it. The aircraft slowed enough for me to turn off onto the rougher grass which slowed us better. As we taxied in he began debriefing me about more positive use of the brakes next time. Suddenly he stopped and apologised. He realised there were no brake pedals on my side of the cockpit. I had been trying to stop using the heel rests.
My first landing in a taildragger (a Husky) was to the shortest licensed airfield runway in UK (grass) and was from the right hand seat. I had flown in there a few times before in other aircraft so I made sure I landed the aircraft on the numbers, at the placarded airspeed. I had been briefed about it having heel operated brakes, rather than the more common toe brakes but I was surprised that despite my best efforts I didn't notice any real retardation from them (I nearly pushed my heels through the floor as the end of the runway came closer). I could tell that my instructor was began to get a bit agitated but he left me to it. The aircraft slowed enough for me to turn off onto the rougher grass which slowed us better. As we taxied in he began debriefing me about more positive use of the brakes next time. Suddenly he stopped and apologised. He realised there were no brake pedals on my side of the cockpit. I had been trying to stop using the heel rests.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
hah, sitting on the strut, braking flintstone style?
?
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From: Falling off the end of the thread
Originally Posted by SNS3Guppy 
Again, you never know when you'll need it. You made the correct decision to return to the hangar and get help.
Again, you never know when you'll need it. You made the correct decision to return to the hangar and get help.
Bit like this then LOL
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: GLASGOW
Wow
Just as well he was gentle on the initial throttle up. Could have been back of the hangar with lots of dents, or worse.
Liked the other guy immediately checking his brakes.
Yes, I am slightly surprised that anyone would consider taking off with a known defect, particularly brakes. I had the opposite the other day where I lined up and the take off roll was very sluggish, not normal. Aborted, and I actually thought pads had jammed, they had, required loosening.
The opposite effect of never reaching Vr - hedge here we come
Liked the other guy immediately checking his brakes.
Yes, I am slightly surprised that anyone would consider taking off with a known defect, particularly brakes. I had the opposite the other day where I lined up and the take off roll was very sluggish, not normal. Aborted, and I actually thought pads had jammed, they had, required loosening.
The opposite effect of never reaching Vr - hedge here we come
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: USA
No, sitting in the right hand seat. Is that where they normally make you sit?
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
One assumes that it was something other than the standard tandem seating Husky ?
But for the further education of those who wrongly think the aviation world stops at the end of their personal knowledge
, it was a Beagle Husky, built as a utility aircraft. Basically a Lycoming engined Auster. The one I flew had a hook and was primarily used for banner towing. Unfortunately it was later written off in a banner pick up accident, definitely not by me though. It had two side by side seats and one in the back. Some had four seats.Beagle Husky - multi-purpose
JetPhotos.Net Photo » G-ATCD (CN: 3683) Private Beagle D5/180 Husky by Oliver Holmes
Beagle Husky G-ATCD: Picture No. 2905 from Pixstel
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: England
Just curious about the "right hand seat" in an airplane that has tandem seats: one in front of the other. Whereas there's no right hand seat, just a front and back seat, to go "right" you'd need to be outside the door and hanging on the strut.
I've copied his post for posterity.
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: New Zealand
no fooling this is why i check the brakes before going anywhere.
http://images.rcuniverse.com/forum/u...19/Pn37830.jpg
there are to many nice expensive aircraft at Omaka! Although a tommie prop may not reach a nanchang!
http://images.rcuniverse.com/forum/u...19/Pn37830.jpg
there are to many nice expensive aircraft at Omaka! Although a tommie prop may not reach a nanchang!