Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
When the Captain pushed the power up and asked me to set power [I] began to adjust the power. During the final power adjustment the Captain called for an abort due to inability to control the aircraft. He had full left rudder and that wasn't enough to keep the airplane centered. We rejected the takeoff; I notified ATC; the Captain called for the Rejected Takeoff [Checklist] upon clearing the runway; and then he made a PA as directed by the QRH. We contacted Dispatch and agreed we needed to return to the gate for maintenance. While watching a maintenance test done by the mechanics we found that the tiller did not center itself when released from the right. With the tiller released it would hold about 10 degrees right deflection.
CRJ-200 First Officer reported the Captain rejected a takeoff attempt because of directional control issues related to the nose wheel steering tiller not centering.