If a 737-800 has no power ('dead' airplane), is it still possible to set the parking brake on? If so, how?
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$\begingroup$ Good question, here is a guess: in contrast to a car where you can pull the handbrake up (and you pull it quite a long way), the parking brake on a plane is usually set using a small leaver. Since with that you probably won't be able to get the amount of force needed to secure the plane, there must be something else. This could by a hydraulic valve that is opened when the parking brake is set, but then it'd probably need power to be released (though it be smarter doing it the other way around). I don't think it is anything like it, and I guess setting the parking brake requires power. $\endgroup$– Maverick283Commented Aug 21, 2015 at 1:22
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2 Answers
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This function is provided by the parking brake valve which is an electrically-operated hydraulic valve that, when the parking brake is commanded to be set, closes and traps hydraulic pressure in the brake lines. You set the parking brake by pushing both brake pedals all the way down, and then pulling up on a separate lever that locks the pedals in the applied position and at the same time commands the parking brake valve to close and trap the hydraulic fluid. You can then take your feet off the brake pedals.
If there's no electrical power, that valve can't close. If there's electrical power, but no hydraulic power from the pumps, that valve can close, and the hydraulic pressure to hold the brakes is then supplied by the accumulator. But that's not as reliable as having the hydraulic pumps operating, and you're not assured that the pressure supplied by the accumulator is sufficient to prevent airplane movement.
Moreover, closing the parking brake valve doesn't ensure a perfectly sealed system. Over time, internal leakage will mean that, if hydraulic power isn't constantly supplied, the trapped brake pressure will gradually leak to the point that the brakes can't hold the airplane, even though the parking brake lever and the brake pedals in the flight deck are still locked.
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1$\begingroup$ Nice answer, do you have any sources for this by chance? $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 15, 2015 at 11:29
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$\begingroup$ One minor addition is that the accumulator will start at system pressure, but will slowly bleed down over time. If the airplane is going to sit for a long time; chocks should be used on both sides. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 1, 2017 at 4:41
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U can use parking brake with accumlator fully charged but u must have the accumlator fully charged with 3000 psi , that fully charged accumlator will keep the parking brake applied only for 8 hours only depending in the internal hyd leak.
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$\begingroup$ What about electrical power? (see the other answer) $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 6, 2023 at 7:55
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$\begingroup$ U just need the batteries on to supply a signal to close the parking brake solenoid valve . $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 6, 2023 at 7:57