J-3 Goodyear brakes days are numbered?

[PA-10]

. . . if there are any still flying, that is.

On the AOPA forum, a member who said the owner of a Spartan Executive that recently got damaged from failure of it's old, obsolete brake system "deserved what he got" for not upgrading to modern brakes. Today he posted this:

I spent much of the day E-mailing FSDO and several inspectors I know and trust, In light of this accident I have requested that an emergency AD be issued to remove all Bendix/Goodyear free rotor brakes from ALL aircraft now in service.

I know I'm going to catch a lot of crap for that, But I believe that there is no, or very few A&P-IAs that have the inspection requirements to return to service for any of these old brake systems, the manuals just don't exist any more, (yes I know there is probably 1 or 2 out there) So if the A&P-IAs don't have the manuals how does the owner /pilot know what is safe and what is not.

An AD will stop the word of mouth dissemination of the proper information to determination of airworthiness of these brakes, in short, get them off all aircraft before some one gets killed for not knowing what is considered to be worn out and dangerious.

I will apologize to Kent, Sandy, and Wiljam for getting over inthusiastic in calling them dumb****ts, and saying they derserved what they got. because in the long run, they were victoms of circumstance by not having the proper information avalible to them, this AD will give them what they deserve "proper information to say it is safe for flight"

folks I contacted today
Mike Buch (Avweb) his term was "problematic"
Denny Pollard (Okland FSDO) he also agrees the brake need to be gone.
My FSDO they also agree the AD should be written.

http://forums.aopa.org/showthread.php?t=30245

 

[bob turner]

Encouraging A/Ds is not something I am wildly enthusiastic about. There is nothing wrong with the original J3 brake - the Grove brake is easy to install, and way easier to maintain, and I highly recommend them.

I am in the middle of converting a Waco to Clevelands. We are looking forward to dramatically easier ground rolls in a strong crosswind. The feds have had the 337 application for three weeks, so I will be calling them soon. Safety is the reason for the request, but sometimes that is not enough.

The Waco, interestingly enough, and its engine as well, has no A/Ds against it. None!

 

[JimC]

If this guy succeeds in forcing us all to remove and replace our perfectly good and functional brake systems, perhaps we should all join in a class action lawsuit to force him to pay for our replacements. What is his name and e-mail address?
JimC

 

[S2D]

. . . requested that an emergency AD be issued to remove all Bendix/Goodyear free rotor brakes from ALL aircraft now in service.

Are you sure they are talking about the J-3 brakes?? They don't have free rotors. Possibly talking about the POS brakes on early Cessnas.

 

[Steve Pierce]

You really need a manual on those old brakes. Dirt simple. That guy needs to get a life. I didn't see anywhere that the Blankenburg's incident was caused by a brake failure.

 

[PA-10]

Are you sure they are talking about the J-3 brakes?? They don't have free rotors. Possibly talking about the POS brakes on early Cessnas.

No, I'm not sure.

My feeling was, why not request an AD requiring all conventional gear aircraft be converted to tricycle, since taildraggers are inherently more dangerous. :-?

 

[JimC]

He was talking about free-rotor and not (yet) our drums. BUT, the real issue is old design = obsolete vs. new design = desirable. According to the report, two FSDO's have already bought into this. Our drum brakes could easily be next on the list.
JimC

 

[Josh]

The Stinson's original brakes were that way, had the disk- caliper type brakes. If that dude succeeds then what else will happen? Give me his E-mail and I'll give him my 2 cents.

 

[12Geezer2]

Was always taught to never rely on brakes in a cub. Shucks; in the old days of flat track motorcycle racing they made us run with NO BRAKES. :lol:

 

[Greg Smith]

Only time I use brakes on a Cub is when I'm getting propped or doing a run-up. Except for BRLP type operations, when else would you really need them?

 

[bob turner]

How about when your student takes you a little too far to the left? or during taxi in a strong crosswind?

It is time for the older aircraft to receive some consideration for the years they have operated more or less safely. I for one would love to get rid of that useless fuel drain in the cockpit of the J-3.