What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
PIC noticed the aircraft pulling to the right during taxi to the departure runway but decided to proceed with the takeoff. A static runup was performed on the runway. The brakes were unable to hold the aircraft in position. The brakes were released and the aircraft again began to drift to the right. The PIC assumed the rudder would have enough authority to counter this drift as airspeed increased. When it became apparent that it would not, the takeoff was rejected and full brakes applied. The aircraft continued tracking to the right, the right propeller impacted a taxiway light, and the aircraft was brought to a stop on a taxiway.
The inspector conducting the airworthiness aspect of the investigation obtained maintenance documents from the operator. After the incident, the left brakes were replaced. It was explained to that inspector that the right drift was due to the right brakes operating properly and having more authority over the left brakes that were not funtioning properly. The maintenance log also documented what was done regarding the propeller striking the taxiway light.
The inspector conducting the operations aspect of the investigation interviewed the pilot on two separate occaisions. The pilot stated that they decided to initiate the takeoff knowing the aircraft had a tendency to drift to the right. This was a result of personal operational pressure they placed on themselves wanting to complete the flight as planned. They also stated that they realized they would have to justify a decision to not take off with company management, but they did not fear any recrimination from management had they done so.
As the FAA filed it
PIC NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT PULLING TO THE RIGHT DURING TAXI TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY BUT DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE TAKEOFF. A STATIC RUNUP WAS PERFORMED ON THE RUNWAY. THE BRAKES WERE UNABLE TO HOLD THE AIRCRAFT IN POSITION. THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED AND THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE PIC ASSUMED THE RUDDER WOULD HAVE ENOUGH AUTHORITY TO COUNTER THIS DRIFT AS AIRSPEED INCREASED. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IT WOULD NOT, THE TAKEOFF WAS REJECTED AND FULL BRAKES APPLIED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TRACKING TO THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT PROPELLER IMPACTED A TAXIWAY LIGHT, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP ON A TAXIWAY.
THE INSPECTOR CONDUCTING THE AIRWORTHINESS ASPECT OF THE INVESTIGATION OBTAINED MAINTENANCE DOCUMENTS FROM THE OPERATOR. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE LEFT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THAT INSPECTOR THAT THE RIGHT DRIFT WAS DUE TO THE RIGHT BRAKES OPERATING PROPERLY AND HAVING MORE AUTHORITY OVER THE LEFT BRAKES THAT WERE NOT FUNTIONING PROPERLY. THE MAINTENANCE LOG ALSO DOCUMENTED WHAT WAS DONE REGARDING THE PROPELLER STRIKING THE TAXIWAY LIGHT.
THE INSPECTOR CONDUCTING THE OPERATIONS ASPECT OF THE INVESTIGATION INTERVIEWED THE PILOT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCAISIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY DECIDED TO INITIATE THE TAKEOFF KNOWING THE AIRCRAFT HAD A TENDENCY TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THIS WAS A RESULT OF PERSONAL OPERATIONAL PRESSURE THEY PLACED ON THEMSELVES WANTING TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT AS PLANNED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY REALIZED THEY WOULD HAVE TO JUSTIFY A DECISION TO NOT TAKE OFF WITH COMPANY MANAGEMENT, BUT THEY DID NOT FEAR ANY RECRIMINATION FROM MANAGEMENT HAD THEY DONE SO.