PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
I agreed to pick up a maintenance flight; the aircraft's aileron cables had been replaced very recently. I performed the preflight inspection using the checklist; paying particular attention to the ailerons; etc. However; I did not closely inspect the brake pads on the main wheel disc brake system. The flight was uneventful; and the ailerons worked properly. However; during landing; on rollout; I detected a soft abrasive noise from the right brake. The braking action was ok; but the noise got my attention; it was not loud; but noticeable. After parking the aircraft; I postflighted the aircraft and discovered on close inspection that one of the brake pads had been installed backwards; which resulted in moderate braking action but also the soft grinding noise as well. And instantly I realized I had flown an unairworthy aircraft. If I had been really careful to inspect the brakes closely; I would not have flown the aircraft. I guess you could call it failure to perform the preflight checklist properly; additionally attention to detail was inadequate.
The pilot of a Piper PA28 reported discovering that a brake pad was installed backward during the post flight walk-around.