Piper PA34 pilot has brake failure and contacts a baggage cart and sign while taxiing.

Attributes
ACN	722710
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 600 flight time type : 200 maintenance supervisor : 25
ASRS Report	722710
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical ground encounters : vehicle ground encounters other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

When taxiing to united states customs facility brakes failed and one of my propellers struck a sign (approximately 6 inches by 16 inches) on a luggage cart which was on the ramp next to the customs building. There were no damage to my aircraft; however the sign was damaged. There was no damage to the luggage cart. Brakes had been working properly prior to incident. Aircraft was left at FBO for repair of brake system and is there at this time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA34 PLT HAS BRAKE FAILURE AND CONTACTS A BAGGAGE CART AND SIGN WHILE TAXIING.

Narrative: WHEN TAXIING TO UNITED STATES CUSTOMS FACILITY BRAKES FAILED AND ONE OF MY PROPS STRUCK A SIGN (APPROX 6 INCHES BY 16 INCHES) ON A LUGGAGE CART WHICH WAS ON THE RAMP NEXT TO THE CUSTOMS BUILDING. THERE WERE NO DAMAGE TO MY ACFT; HOWEVER THE SIGN WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE LUGGAGE CART. BRAKES HAD BEEN WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO INCIDENT. ACFT WAS LEFT AT FBO FOR REPAIR OF BRAKE SYS AND IS THERE AT THIS TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.