Narrative:

My co-pilot and I were performing a flight check on an autopilot that had just been repaired. After performing the test in the local area; we decided to fly the aircraft. This was to continue the flight check as well as becoming more familiar with this aircraft's operations. We contacted the local ATC and asked for VFR flight following. Upon reaching our destination we accepted a visual approach to runway 22. I offered the landing to the co-pilot who had training in the aircraft. Upon landing the co-pilot indicated he had no left brake. When I came up on the controls with him; I too had no left brake. At this time; me and the co-pilot began putting in left rudder to bring the aircraft back to centerline. I also began to put in right differential power to help with the right pulling action from the right brake that had been applied. After controlling the aircraft down most the runway; I began to become concerned with the runway length that was still available. I then began to apply small amounts of right brake to bring the aircraft to a stop. After applying all that could be applied without losing more directional control; the aircraft left the runway with about 1500 ft left at a very slow taxi speed. While exiting the runway the left prop struck a runway light putting a small nick in the prop and a 4 inch cut on the side of the fuselage caused by the runway light. Being only a few feet off the runway we were able to taxi back onto the runway and to the FBO with no assistance. There were no injuries with this incident. Prior to flight; and while doing the preflight there were no signs of any brake or hydraulic leaks. We did the walk around; pre-taxi brake check; engine run-up; and performed a short field takeoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 pilot reported left brake failure during landing roll resulting in a runway excursion at low speed and propeller contact with a runway light.

Narrative: My Co-pilot and I were performing a flight check on an autopilot that had just been repaired. After performing the test in the local area; we decided to fly the aircraft. This was to continue the flight check as well as becoming more familiar with this aircraft's operations. We contacted the local ATC and asked for VFR flight following. Upon reaching our destination we accepted a visual approach to Runway 22. I offered the landing to the Co-pilot who had training in the aircraft. Upon landing the Co-pilot indicated he had no left brake. When I came up on the controls with him; I too had no left brake. At this time; me and the Co-pilot began putting in left rudder to bring the aircraft back to centerline. I also began to put in right differential power to help with the right pulling action from the right brake that had been applied. After controlling the aircraft down most the runway; I began to become concerned with the runway length that was still available. I then began to apply small amounts of right brake to bring the aircraft to a stop. After applying all that could be applied without losing more directional control; the aircraft left the runway with about 1500 FT left at a very slow taxi speed. While exiting the runway the left prop struck a runway light putting a small nick in the prop and a 4 inch cut on the side of the fuselage caused by the runway light. Being only a few feet off the runway we were able to taxi back onto the runway and to the FBO with no assistance. There were no injuries with this incident. Prior to flight; and while doing the preflight there were no signs of any brake or hydraulic leaks. We did the walk around; pre-taxi brake check; engine run-up; and performed a short field takeoff.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.