NEAR TRAGEDY STRIKES

Trip Start Aug 18, 2008
1
5
17
Trip End Sep 30, 2008


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Flag of United States  , California,
Monday, September 1, 2008

AFTER FLIGHTS FROM DOUBLE EAGLE AT ABQ, AND STOP FOR FUEL IN WINSLOW, I STOPPED FOR A QUICK GAS STOP AT BLYTHE CA WHERE IT WAS 100 DEGREES. AFTER FUELING AND WHILE TAXIING OUT ON THE RUNWAY, THE RIGHT BRAKE LINE FAILED, POSSIBLY FROM THE HEAT AND THE LEAKING FLUID CAUGHT THE WHEEL PANT ON FIRE. ALSO THIS FAILED THE BRAKE AND I EXITTED THE RUNWAY UNCONTROLLED DESPARATELY STANDING ON THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT BRAKE LINE ALSO BURST BUT NO FIRE.
THE WHEEL PANT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND I IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN AND EVACUATED. I REMEMBERED I HAD A WATER BOTTLE IN THE COCKPIT AND I REACHED IN AND GOT IT AND WAS ABLE TO JUST PUT OUT THE FIRE. I WAS AT LEAST A MILE FROM ANYBODY AND IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET SOMEONE OUT TO RESCUE ME.
IT LOOKS BAD AND THE PART TIME/ON CALL MECHANIC MAY BE AVAIL TOMORROW. EVERYTHING IN TOWN IS CLOSED TODAY. BOTH BRAKE LINES FROM THE FUSELAGE NEED REPLACING, WILL NEED TO BE BLED AND THE WORST PART IS THE RIGHT TIRE IS SCORCHED ON THE SIDEWALL ALTHOUGH IT IS HOLDING PRESSURE.
I AM NOT HAPPY...
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Comments

maller
maller on Sep 2, 2008 at 11:52AM

Replacement fairings
Do you have replacement fairings? Any molds for making new fairings back at the hangar?

Peter

teamzipper
teamzipper on Sep 2, 2008 at 08:54PM

wheel pants
Hi Pete: It was the wheel pants and they were bought from a company in Florida so replacements are available, not soon enough unfortunately.
Hope you are well and the fairings you made look great...
more later..we have the plane back in commission now and will head for Reno tomorrow...George

desrsf
desrsf on Sep 16, 2008 at 11:46AM

no happy either...
you make me so nervous...

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