B flight crew reported loss of directional control during initial takeoff roll. Crew executed a low speed rejected takeoff and returned to gate for maintenance.
Synopsis
B flight crew reported loss of directional control during initial takeoff roll. Crew executed a low speed rejected takeoff and returned to gate for maintenance.
Narrative
Low ground speed reject at ZZZ on XXR. I was Pilot Flying (PF). All checks per SOP were called for and completed. We were given the Take Off Clearance by ZZZ Tower on XXR. Thrust was advanced by CA/Pilot In-Command (PIC)/Pilot Monitoring (PM); all engine thrusts stabilized and matched up and TOGA was selected. No EICAS messages were displayed at this time. My view transitioned to outside. As the aircraft started accelerating normally I noticed that it was veering left; initially slightly; I used right rudder to counteract the left side yaw. The yaw increased to the point that I had to apply full right rudder. I immediately announced 'I have no control' The reject call was made and thrust was reduced all while the aircraft was stopped on the runway. We identified the EICAS ENG 1 CONTROL. We evaluated and asked Tower to taxi back. The airplane taxied normally to the ramp. In review and under the circumstances we could have saved critical seconds; even just one or two; if our SOP would have allowed for the 'REJECT' Call to be made from the right seat. Valuable time was lost by my having to verbalize 'I have no control' which required an additional short time to be processed by the PIC; then leading to a reject initiative. Saving time in this maneuver is critical.
Second reporter narrative
First Officer (FO) was Pilot Flying (PF) and I was Pilot Monitoring (PM); upon takeoff clearance Runway XXR I advanced the throttles to stand up position all engines had a uniform acceleration; after pushing TOGA for selected TO2 thrust and aircraft accelerating I noticed the aircraft is slightly left of centerline and Call ' CENTER LINE' and noticed the FO has full right rudder but the aircraft was veering to the left with ' ENG 1 CONTROL' EICAS. We did a reject and using a bit of nose wheel steering and differential braking using right brake pedal we could stop and keep the aircraft within pavement of course I should add a 200-foot wide runway helped too. Taxied back to the ramp after coordinating with ATCAs per my conversation with maintenance later apparently a faulty fuel metering unit was the cause of the engine not accelerating to TO thrust.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.