Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors
On taxi out; I noticed that there was a bit of a 'dead spot' in the steering near the neutral position. I even stated that it wasn't like this leaving ORD or arriving at IND. This is the second leg with this plane. On takeoff upon handing over controls to the FO (Pilot Flying) we received a 'Steering INOP' message as he advanced the thrust levers.It was then that I looked down and noticed that the cord to my cell phone earbuds were touching the base of the tiller (where movement occurs; not totally at the base) and that was possibly inhibiting the steering. We rejected takeoff immediately; taxied clear of the runway; ran the proper procedures. It was then that I moved the tiller (after moving the cord) and verified that this was the issue. We taxied back and flight occurred without incident. I normally leave my phone and earbud cord in my pocket during flight operations. I'm not sure why I had tossed it up to the compartment forward to the tiller. Double check that all things are clear the tiller no matter how small or innocuous it may seem.
[Report narrative contained no additional information].
EMB-145XR flight crew reported abnormal nose wheel steering and a STEERING INOP EICAS message on takeoff roll. A rejected takeoff was performed; and the Captain found the nose wheel tiller was being affected by iPhone ear buds that had been placed there.