What happened
During the takeoff roll of an unnamed aircraft type, the pilot flying initiated a rejected takeoff after the aircraft had already begun to deviate from the runway centerline. As the aircraft accelerated between 40 and 60 knots, the captain released the nose gear steering control switch once the rudder became aerodynamically effective. This action, combined with asymmetrical thrust, caused the plane to veer sharply to the left.
Investigation of the propeller settings revealed that while the right propeller was in the normal operating range, the left propeller remained in the start lock position. This discrepancy occurred because the captain had moved the power levers to disengage the start locks during the after-start checklist, but failed to fully disengage the left side.
As the aircraft veered left, it overran an airport sign and traveled across a dirt median and a taxiway for approximately 850 feet before the pilot applied moderate braking. The aircraft continued its divergent path, leaving tire marks on a parallel taxiway and a vehicle service road, eventually impacting a hangar. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported in the provided text.
Findings
- The pilot flying failed to notify the second-in-command that directional control had been lost or that the takeoff was being aborted, violating company procedures.
- The second-in-command failed to properly set and monitor engine power during the takeoff roll as required by company protocols.
- Asymmetrical thrust caused by the left propeller remaining in the start lock position led to the loss of directional control.
- No mechanical failures were identified in the braking system, nose wheel steering, or propeller assemblies prior to the impact.