ATR..."prop brake?"

[EagleRJ]

Eagle had an ATR prop brake fail a few years back, and it didn't release fully, but rather started slipping. The friction built up so much heat some of the gearbox parts and parts of the cowl melted.

Prop brakes aren't worth the weight. The increased safety of stopping the prop is countered by the trust people place in the brake to keep it stopped, as well as the previously mentioned hazards of the intake and exhaust.

 

[Flechas]

Saab 340s are equipped with prop brakes but almost all 121 operators have tied them off because they don't want rampers to get associated with walking around running engines while the prop is locked. They feared that they would eventially walk into a spinning prop.

That happened at XJT a few years ago.....

 

[BlackPilot628]

I know ASA used theirs all the time.

Loud, but it put out AC and Heat!

I think they still use the Prop Locks

 

[ATRedneck]

I flew it for 1000 hours and had that happen TWICE.

I did about 2500 in the mighty ATR and never had anything wrong with the prop brake.

We even had it in the manual to push the power up to flight idle so the packs would put out more hot air.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Prop brakes aren't worth the weight. The increased safety of stopping the prop is countered by the trust people place in the brake to keep it stopped, as well as the previously mentioned hazards of the intake and exhaust.

I wouldn't trust them either. A couple of years ago the Prop Brake Warning went off while we were at the gate. At that same time I look out the side window and who is standing closer than anybody would ever care to stand next to a spinning prop? One of our rampers trying to wind up the Air Cart hose.

Pretty scary sight. Luckily it didn't let go, but it must have been working it's way there.