Narrative:

I was taxiing from the hangar for takeoff on runway 5R -- a distance of approximately 3 mi. I had just picked the cessna 172 up from maintenance, in which the brakes had been changed. I was cleared to taxi to runway 5R via txwys G, M, J, P, and C. I noticed no abnormalities during my taxi. I was observing for anything out of the ordinary due to the aircraft just coming out of maintenance. After turning sbound on taxiway C and continuing about 2/3 of the approximately 2 mi, I did a magneto check which required using the brakes. This was done in a normal manner and no abnormalities were noted. I continued to taxi normally. As I began to turn left onto taxiway C9 (last intersection to the runway), I noticed that I had no brake pressure on my left pedal, at which time I decided to return to the hangar. I noted that I had some brake pressure on the right pedal. However, as soon as I applied pressure to that pedal it failed. I then employed full left pedal and was able to negotiate the turn onto taxiway C9. I straightened the aircraft out and realized that my momentum would carry me onto the approach end of runway 5R. I attempted to contact ground control 2-3 times, but they answered other traffic, at which time I told them I had an emergency. They then answered me and I cleared them of my situation. An aircraft on short final was given a go around. I then shut the engine off, however, it continued on, coming to rest on the left edge of the runway. I advised ground control that I could restart and continue across the runway and stop on the opposite taxiway. They advised for me to do that. I restarted and when I had enough momentum to clear the runway by a safe distance, I shut the engine off again. I requested ground to contact my hangar to arrange a tow. During the time I was dealing with the attempt to make the left turn off taxiway C, I reached for the parking brake to see if that would provide any brakes. I noticed at that time that the parking brake was partially engaged.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 WHILE TAXIING DECLARED AN EMER AND MADE A RWY INCURSION DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY TAXIING WITH THE PARKING BRAKE PARTIALLY SET.

Narrative: I WAS TAXIING FROM THE HANGAR FOR TKOF ON RWY 5R -- A DISTANCE OF APPROX 3 MI. I HAD JUST PICKED THE CESSNA 172 UP FROM MAINT, IN WHICH THE BRAKES HAD BEEN CHANGED. I WAS CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 5R VIA TXWYS G, M, J, P, AND C. I NOTICED NO ABNORMALITIES DURING MY TAXI. I WAS OBSERVING FOR ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY DUE TO THE ACFT JUST COMING OUT OF MAINT. AFTER TURNING SBOUND ON TXWY C AND CONTINUING ABOUT 2/3 OF THE APPROX 2 MI, I DID A MAGNETO CHK WHICH REQUIRED USING THE BRAKES. THIS WAS DONE IN A NORMAL MANNER AND NO ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED. I CONTINUED TO TAXI NORMALLY. AS I BEGAN TO TURN L ONTO TXWY C9 (LAST INTXN TO THE RWY), I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO BRAKE PRESSURE ON MY L PEDAL, AT WHICH TIME I DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE HANGAR. I NOTED THAT I HAD SOME BRAKE PRESSURE ON THE R PEDAL. HOWEVER, AS SOON AS I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THAT PEDAL IT FAILED. I THEN EMPLOYED FULL L PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN ONTO TXWY C9. I STRAIGHTENED THE ACFT OUT AND REALIZED THAT MY MOMENTUM WOULD CARRY ME ONTO THE APCH END OF RWY 5R. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT GND CTL 2-3 TIMES, BUT THEY ANSWERED OTHER TFC, AT WHICH TIME I TOLD THEM I HAD AN EMER. THEY THEN ANSWERED ME AND I CLRED THEM OF MY SIT. AN ACFT ON SHORT FINAL WAS GIVEN A GAR. I THEN SHUT THE ENG OFF, HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED ON, COMING TO REST ON THE L EDGE OF THE RWY. I ADVISED GND CTL THAT I COULD RESTART AND CONTINUE ACROSS THE RWY AND STOP ON THE OPPOSITE TXWY. THEY ADVISED FOR ME TO DO THAT. I RESTARTED AND WHEN I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO CLR THE RWY BY A SAFE DISTANCE, I SHUT THE ENG OFF AGAIN. I REQUESTED GND TO CONTACT MY HANGAR TO ARRANGE A TOW. DURING THE TIME I WAS DEALING WITH THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE L TURN OFF TXWY C, I REACHED FOR THE PARKING BRAKE TO SEE IF THAT WOULD PROVIDE ANY BRAKES. I NOTICED AT THAT TIME THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS PARTIALLY ENGAGED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.