A DHC2 on floats had brake failure during runway landing resulting in a runway excursion and damage to a float. Maintenance had been preformed on the brakes but were not tested by the pilot due to a water departure. Required paper work was left behind at the maintenance facility.

Narrative

The flight was a reposition flight as the aircraft had just completed and annual inspection. The plane was at the dock and sitting in the water ready for flight. I preflighted the aircraft and was helped off the dock. Taxi and pre-takeoff checks took fifteen minutes to warm up the radial engine and during this time I cycled the landing gear two times. All indicators were normal in both up and down mode. I was asked to check this gear as some work had been done on the gear/brakes. After takeoff a climb to 1;200 where I cycled the gear to check normal with air loads. All was normal. Cleared to land at destination. Landing was smooth and normal. When brakes applied the aircraft started a gradual turn to the left. Right brake had no effect. Releasing the left brake had no effect. A skid mark on the runway was measured at 241 FT. The aircraft struck a runway annunciator sign and damaged the left float. The flight was about nine to ten minutes. Weather was not a factor. During preflight I overlooked the paperwork portion of the checklist and when asked for the airworthiness certificate and registration; was unable to locate. It was left behind with the logbooks at the maintenance base. From the preflight standpoint; there were three others standing on the dock and I was distracted and just plane over looked it.