Sa-227 captain reported rejecting the takeoff when directional control became an issue during the in...

Narrative:

On runway centerline for takeoff; holding the brakes; speed levers were advanced to high with normal indications. Power was advanced while holding the power lever nose steering button. There were no abnormal indications. At 20%; brakes were released; airspeed alive and the nose steering button released. After releasing the nose steering button the airplane started veering slowly to the right; initial corrections were attempted with rudder usage. The airplane continued to veer to the right and did not respond to corrections; at which point an aborted takeoff was commenced. Power levers were reduced to idle; full left rudder was deflected by this point; and brake was used with no change in directional control of the airplane. In an effort to stop the airplane; power levers were brought cautiously into reverse to try to avoid aggravating further the loss of direction control. It was all ineffective at trying to redirect the airplane back towards the centerline and it continued towards the edge of the runway. Efforts at slowing the airplane down and/or stopping before it went off the runway were unsuccessful as well. As it went off into the grass; the left propeller struck a runway light. After the plane stopped; both engines were shut down after advising tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SA-227 Captain reported rejecting the takeoff when directional control became an issue during the initial power application. He was unsuccessful at preventing the aircraft from departing the runway using rudder; differential braking; and reverse thrust. The left propeller struck a runway light.

Narrative: On runway centerline for takeoff; holding the brakes; speed levers were advanced to high with normal indications. Power was advanced while holding the power lever nose steering button. There were no abnormal indications. At 20%; brakes were released; airspeed alive and the nose steering button released. After releasing the nose steering button the airplane started veering slowly to the right; initial corrections were attempted with rudder usage. The airplane continued to veer to the right and did not respond to corrections; at which point an aborted takeoff was commenced. Power levers were reduced to idle; full left rudder was deflected by this point; and brake was used with no change in directional control of the airplane. In an effort to stop the airplane; power levers were brought cautiously into reverse to try to avoid aggravating further the loss of direction control. It was all ineffective at trying to redirect the airplane back towards the centerline and it continued towards the edge of the runway. Efforts at slowing the airplane down and/or stopping before it went off the runway were unsuccessful as well. As it went off into the grass; the left propeller struck a runway light. After the plane stopped; both engines were shut down after advising tower.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1415266
Time
Date	201701
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	SA-227 AC Metro III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Nosewheel Steering
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 91 Flight Crew Total 3305 Flight Crew Type 681
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Ground Event / Encounter Object Ground Excursion Runway

Sa-227 captain reported rejecting the takeoff when directional control became an issue during the initial power application. He was unsuccessful at preventing the aircraft from departing the runway using rudder; differential braking; and reverse thrust. The left propeller struck a runway light.