Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 1; Flight Crew Total 274; Flight Crew Type 274
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Excursion Runway
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I was doing 3 landings for currency before a planned [sight-seeing flight] with a passenger later that day. Everything was normal before takeoff. There was no evidence of a leak on the ground at the tie-down area and the plane braked fine during the brake check and taxiing to the runup area. I completed three landings: first one was a full stop with a taxi back (two left turns); second was a touch-and-go; and third was intended to be a full stop. On the third landing I realized that I was having a right brake failure. After using up more than half the runway and not wanting to go over the end of the runway I made a very shallow veer into the grass just to the left of the runway and came to a stop near the end of the runway. The tow truck was able to pull the plane out of the grass while still parked on the runway. There was no damage to person; plane or property. The plane has since been serviced and it was found that one of the brake lines had a hairline fracture; which resulted in a loss of pressure. The brake line was replaced and the plane has recently been returned to service after completing its annual.
C172 pilot reported a runway excursion occurred when the left brake failed on the landing roll.