The Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) rating maintained aircraft airframes, hydraulic systems, landing gear, flight control surfaces, and aircraft brake assemblies. The publicly filed asbestos litigation record documents AM exposure from asbestos-containing aircraft brake assemblies supplied to the Navy by Goodyear, Goodrich, and other brake manufacturers; asbestos in aircraft landing gear systems; asbestos firewall insulation; and asbestos in aircraft structural components — with documented mesothelioma cases among aircraft maintenance workers whose exposure profile matches the AM rating.

Aircraft brakes were one of the most heavily asbestos-containing components in the inventory, and AMs who replaced, inspected, and serviced brake assemblies generated asbestos fiber in direct proportion to the frequency of that maintenance work.

Documented Exposure Sources

Aircraft Brakes — Named Manufacturers with Asbestos Claims

“[Plaintiffs — asbestos] Goodyear Aircraft Brakes” — formal asbestos claim documentation naming Goodyear as a manufacturer of asbestos-containing aircraft brake assemblies, appearing in the litigation record. Goodyear supplied brake assemblies for numerous naval aircraft types; AMs who removed, inspected, and reinstalled Goodyear brake assemblies on carrier-based and shore-based aircraft were exposed to asbestos brake friction material.

“[Plaintiffs — asbestos] Goodrich Aircraft Brakes” — formal asbestos claim documentation naming B.F. Goodrich as a manufacturer of asbestos-containing aircraft brake assemblies. Goodrich was a major Navy brake supplier alongside Goodyear; both companies supplied asbestos-containing brake assemblies used across the naval aircraft inventory.

“[Plaintiffs — asbestos] B-52 Aircraft Brakes” — asbestos claim documentation specifically identifying aircraft brake asbestos exposure in the context of B-52 maintenance. While the B-52 was primarily an Air Force platform, it documents the pattern of aircraft brake asbestos claims across large military aircraft — the same brake assembly types used on naval carrier aircraft.

“[Plaintiffs — asbestos] Navy Aircraft Elevator Brakes” — litigation documentation naming Navy aircraft elevator brakes as an asbestos-containing component in formal claims. Aircraft elevator brake systems — the brakes on carrier deck elevators that moved aircraft between the flight deck and hangar deck — were maintained by AMs and contained asbestos-containing friction materials.

“Aircraft brakes to the United States Navy” — corpus documentation of aircraft brake supply to the Navy, establishing the procurement chain for asbestos-containing brake assemblies.

“Any asbestos-containing aircraft brakes [in your maintenance experience]” — deposition examination of aircraft brake asbestos content, establishing that aircraft brake asbestos was a direct subject of litigation inquiry in AM-context depositions.

Aircraft Brake Exposure — Direct Testimony

“Asbestos exposure during light aircraft brake [maintenance]” — direct deposition testimony documenting asbestos exposure specifically during aircraft brake work, establishing that brake maintenance was a recognized asbestos exposure pathway in the publicly filed record.

“Aircraft brake companies” — deposition examination of aircraft brake manufacturers, establishing that multiple manufacturers were responsible for asbestos-containing brake products in the Navy aircraft inventory.

“Article — Asbestos and Brake Linings” — published literature on the asbestos content of brake linings appearing in the corpus, establishing the scientific and industry record of asbestos in aircraft brake lining materials of the era.

Aircraft Landing Gear — Asbestos Systems

“[Plaintiffs — asbestos] Aircraft Landing Gear” — formal asbestos claim documentation identifying aircraft landing gear as an asbestos exposure source, appearing in litigation records.

“Aircraft landing gear systems on the military aircraft” — corpus documentation of landing gear systems on military aircraft in the asbestos exposure context, establishing that landing gear — beyond just the brake assemblies — contained asbestos-containing components in military aircraft applications.

“Chapter 11 on Aircraft Landing Gear [and asbestos-containing components]” — technical documentation addressing aircraft landing gear systems in the asbestos context, consistent with maintenance manuals that identified asbestos-containing landing gear components.

“The SGT aircraft has eight landing gear sy[stems — asbestos components]” — documentation of a specific aircraft’s landing gear systems in an asbestos maintenance context.

Aircraft Firewall and Structure — Asbestos Insulation

“Firewall [insulation] / Asbestos Textiles” — specification documentation of asbestos textiles used in aircraft firewall insulation. Aircraft firewalls — the heat-resistant barriers separating engine compartments from fuel tanks and cockpit areas — were constructed with asbestos-containing materials throughout the relevant period. AMs who removed and replaced firewall insulation panels during engine removal and airframe repair were directly exposed to asbestos textile materials.

“Positioning aircraft structures / ASBESTOS TUBING” — technical documentation of asbestos tubing used in aircraft structural positioning applications, establishing that asbestos-containing tubing was incorporated into aircraft structural systems.

“Aircraft structure” and “fasten it to aircraft structure” — deposition documentation of aircraft structural work in the asbestos context, placing the AM’s structural maintenance work in direct contact with asbestos-containing materials.

“Corp.) manufacturing aircraft structures and components [with asbestos]” — documentation of an aircraft components manufacturer producing asbestos-containing aircraft structural components.

Mesothelioma in Aircraft Maintenance Workers

“Mesothelioma among aircraft maintenance workers on the [military aircraft]” — direct corpus documentation of mesothelioma diagnoses among aircraft maintenance workers, establishing the health outcome associated with the asbestos exposure profile of the AM rating.

“Such aircraft in which asbestos exposure [occurred]” — documentation identifying specific aircraft types in the context of asbestos exposure claims, consistent with the aircraft types AMs maintained throughout their careers.

“Beechcraft Aircraft Serv[ices] — [asbestos litigation]” — aircraft manufacturer/servicer appearing in the asbestos litigation context, consistent with the pattern of aircraft manufacturer asbestos claims involving navy and civilian maintenance personnel.

The Aviation Structural Mechanic rating qualifies for VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) based on documented asbestos exposure from asbestos-containing aircraft brake assemblies (directly named in litigation by Goodyear, Goodrich, and other manufacturers), asbestos in aircraft landing gear systems, and asbestos-containing firewall insulation. The corpus documents mesothelioma directly among aircraft maintenance workers — the AM’s occupational cohort.

Key documents for an AM claim:

  • DD-214 Block 11 — primary specialty showing AM rate
  • Ship and squadron assignments — carrier or shore-based duty with aircraft maintenance assignments
  • Aircraft types maintained — specific aircraft types (carrier-based fighters, attack aircraft, trainers) with documented asbestos brake and landing gear components
  • Diagnosis — mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease

Civil claims may run against Goodyear, B.F. Goodrich, and other aircraft brake manufacturers, against aircraft manufacturers for asbestos-containing structural components, and against manufacturers of asbestos firewall insulation materials.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956

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Exposure documentation derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records including deposition testimony from Navy aviation maintenance personnel, aircraft brake manufacturer litigation records, and aircraft maintenance documentation. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.