During the takeoff roll the pilot of a PA-28 noticed a lack of effectiveness when applying a right r...

Narrative:

[I] applied full power for takeoff; [then] applied right rudder as the airspeed increased to counteract the left turning tendencies; but it felt like the pedal moved without the normal resistance. I elected to abort the takeoff; but pressing the right brake pedal did not apply right brake. I attempted to decelerate by placing the throttle to idle position and holding full aft elevator and gently applying even brake pressure; but it seemed only the left brake had any effect. I used the rudder pedals to maintain directional control of the aircraft on the runway but I was unable to bring the aircraft to a complete stop prior to the end of the runway. A runway threshold light was broken by the aircraft's main tire upon going off the end of the runway. I was able to bring the aircraft to a stop by using the parking brake and the left brake pedal. I responded to the tower's transmission asking me if I required assistance saying that I did. We had the aircraft towed back to its FBO where maintenance personnel determined that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the pedals or brake system; but speculated that right brake had been overheated during the taxi and run up prior to the incident on the takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: During the takeoff roll the pilot of a PA-28 noticed a lack of effectiveness when applying a right rudder correction. The takeoff was aborted; but the limited right brake effectiveness caused the aircraft to contact a runway threshold light and depart the runway surface. Maintenance was unable to find a mechanical problem and speculated that the brake became overheated during taxi and run-up.

Narrative: [I] applied full power for takeoff; [then] applied right rudder as the airspeed increased to counteract the left turning tendencies; but it felt like the pedal moved without the normal resistance. I elected to abort the takeoff; but pressing the right brake pedal did not apply right brake. I attempted to decelerate by placing the throttle to idle position and holding full aft elevator and gently applying even brake pressure; but it seemed only the left brake had any effect. I used the rudder pedals to maintain directional control of the aircraft on the runway but I was unable to bring the aircraft to a complete stop prior to the end of the runway. A runway threshold light was broken by the aircraft's main tire upon going off the end of the runway. I was able to bring the aircraft to a stop by using the parking brake and the left brake pedal. I responded to the Tower's transmission asking me if I required assistance saying that I did. We had the aircraft towed back to its FBO where maintenance personnel determined that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the pedals or brake system; but speculated that right brake had been overheated during the taxi and run up prior to the incident on the takeoff.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1114099
Time
Date	201309
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Brake System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 600 Flight Crew Type 100
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Ground Excursion Runway