Date: 201809
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Light: Night
Aircraft: Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
Aircraft component: Wheels/Tires/Brakes
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: As we arrived at the end of runway 16 for takeoff the Pilot in Command (PIC) called for the Before Takeoff Checklist to the line. I noticed that the number 4 brake temp changed from 6 to 7; which means it also changed from green to white. I pointed this out to the PIC. A moment later; it changed from 7 to 8. The other brake temps were much lower. The PIC wanted to douse the brake with water. I expressed discomfort with that. He said; '... just like taxiing through a water puddle.' He said that he would need the ok from ATC to exit the aircraft to pour water on the brakes since we were located on a Movement Area. I indicated that I was ok with seeing how ATC felt about opening the Passenger door just short of the runway. I was expecting that the controller would not give us permission for that. I was wrong. ATC gave the PIC permission to open the Passenger door and for the PIC to walk about the aircraft; which the PIC did without hesitation. The brake temp came down immediately; but began to slowly rise again. Before the number 4 brake temp could increase to more than 6 again; we took off. The threats were: a no-go brake temperature indication; a PIC who lacked the professionalism to do the right thing even with a SIC voicing discomfort with his decision; an SIC who lacked the professionalism to more appropriately stand up to a renegade take-matters-into-his-own-hands PIC. The error was taking off without direction from Maintenance Control concerning the brake temp indication. As we climbed off the runway I noticed the brake temp decrease from 6 to 5; and the number 4 brake temp didn't indicate anything abnormal on arrival at the gate [at the destination]. Therefore; no undesired aircraft state existed. In the future; I can risk insubordination more than I did in this incident. I've given up on the company having the means to prevent this from happening in the future.


Second narrative: On taxi out I noticed the right outer brake was a 7 then went to 8 while the inboard was a 4. We were at the hold short line when tower cleared us for takeoff. We told them we couldn't take the takeoff clearance because of the brakes being hot. I have talked to maintenance people in the past and asked about if I could I cool the brakes using water and they said if done carefully this would work. This would have the similar effect of taxiing through a puddle in rain. I mentioned this to the First Officer (FO) and he said he didn't feel comfortable doing this. I did say if he didn't want me to do this I won't. At which point he said nothing. I asked the tower if it would be ok to open the main door at the hold short line and they said it was ok. Using a bottle of water from the galley I very slowly and intermittently applied water to the brakes. This process took about 4-5 minutes using one bottle of water. This procedure allowed us to continue our delayed flight back to ZZZ. Both engines were running so this was a threat to be careful approaching the brakes.What I should have done was called maintenance to tell them of our problem and see if this was an acceptable solution to this situation.


Synopsis: Regional Jet flight crew reported applying water to hot brakes in order to cool the brakes prior to takeoff.