A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Pulling into the gate the Captain had the APU on and set the parking break and stated that the parking break was on and the pressure was normal. Then he asked for the number one engine so I did. At that point I was starting my parking check list flow when the captain said that we were rolling back. At that time I notice that he stepped on the foot brakes and we were still rolling back. I looked down and the parking break was still set. The captain turned off the anti-skid and released the breaks and we were still rolling back. The captain re-applied the brakes and the airplane was still rolling back and at that time I pushed the yellow electric pump on. The aircraft rolled back a total three times until we were able to stop the aircraft. I started the number one engine again so that we could move the aircraft back to the gate. The captain held the breaks until we got the chocks in and then we shut down the aircraft and completed the parking check list.
Approached the gate; with #2 engine shutdown and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) on. Upon receiving the stop signal; set the parking brake; checked the pressure and called for #1 engine shutdown. Turned off the seatbelt sign and began after park flows. Then noticed the aircraft moving backwards. Initially pressed foot pedals eventually reaching the floor; then reached over and turned off the anti-skid. Aircraft continued to roll back with brake pedals depressed and parking brake handle in on position. First Officer (FO) turned on yellow electric pump and aircraft still continued to roll backwards. To the best of my recollection; used multiple combinations of brake pedal and parking brake to get the aircraft to stop. Aircraft stopped a total of 3 times with the first time being the most abrupt. At some point called for the #1 engine to be started and the FO started the engine while I was trying to get the aircraft to stop. By the 3rd time the aircraft came to a stop; the engine was up and had green pressure to the brakes. I just held the brake pedals with the parking brake handle in off position and moved back to the gate and held brakes until aircraft was chocked.
A319 flight crew and a ramp person involved describe a parking brake failure during gate arrival. When the failure is detected; various combinations of normal brakes; antiskid off and parking brake reset are used to stop initially but the aircraft starts rolling again. The yellow electric pump is turned on and the number 1 engine is started and the aircraft stopped twice more before the engine comes up and normal brakes are restored.