EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We pulled into the gate at ZZZ and set the Emergency Brake. I then turned off the 'fasten seat belt' sign and hydraulics. After that; I slid my seat back to pack up my things. A few seconds later I heard some yelling from the ground crew. At that point I realized that the plane was moving forward and reached for the emergency brake; but the emergency brake was already set. I then moved my seat forward and applied the foot brakes which then stopped the plane. The ground crew then had to push us back because the plane had moved too far forward of the gate. I then called Maintenance to let them know the emergency brake was not working. The emergency brake was not working correctly.
Reporter stated the emergency brake is the parking brake. They do not have a separate handle for emergency brake applications. The EMB-145 had full hydraulics on with engines running at the arrival gate; when he initially set the brakes by applying the foot pedals and pulling the parking brake handle. A similar incident occurred 3-4 years ago on the same type of aircraft; but that happened after pushback; when he set the brakes to start the engines. Suddenly they realized the aircraft was rolling forward and he had to reset the brakes. He was never informed as to the cause or maintenance fix for either incident. The emergency brake system on the EMB-145 uses accumulators and pilots have approximately six applications before depleting accumulator pressure. Both he and the Co-pilot are required to have an ATP rating.
Captain reports he heard yelling from the ground crew and realized their EMB-145 aircraft was rolling forward beyond the gate; even though the parking brake handle was pulled and set.