What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot/mechanic was on a maintenance test run/flight. Had just completed a condition inspection on his RV-12 home built, including brake work. At the time of the incident, pilot had done several brake checks on the ramp with satisfactory results. After taxiing at very slow rate of speed (quote from ATC) pilot found he had no brakes as he attempted to turn toward holdshort of runway. Aircraft turned only about 10-20 degrees off taxiway heading, exited the taxiway and traveled down shallow embankment striking fence surrounding ASOS equipment. No damage done to airport property (per airport manager) damage to RV-12 consisted of broken propeller, dented spinner, and dented wingtip fairing. Pilot exited aircraft and phoned tower on cell phone to report incident. No injuries.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT/MECHANIC WAS ON A MAINTENANCE TEST RUN/FLIGHT. HAD JUST COMPLETED A CONDITION INSPECTION ON HIS RV-12 HOME BUILT, INCLUDING BRAKE WORK. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, PILOT HAD DONE SEVERAL BRAKE CHECKS ON THE RAMP WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS. AFTER TAXIING AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED (QUOTE FROM ATC) PILOT FOUND HE HAD NO BRAKES AS HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN TOWARD HOLDSHORT OF RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT TURNED ONLY ABOUT 10-20 DEGREES OFF TAXIWAY HEADING, EXITED THE TAXIWAY AND TRAVELED DOWN SHALLOW EMBANKMENT STRIKING FENCE SURROUNDING ASOS EQUIPMENT. NO DAMAGE DONE TO AIRPORT PROPERTY (PER AIRPORT MANAGER) DAMAGE TO RV-12 CONSISTED OF BROKEN PROPELLER, DENTED SPINNER, AND DENTED WINGTIP FAIRING. PILOT EXITED AIRCRAFT AND PHONED TOWER ON CELL PHONE TO REPORT INCIDENT. NO INJURIES.