MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
As power was set to reduced takeoff power; the aircraft made an uncommanded turn to the left. I applied right rudder to counteract the turning moment. It [continued to] turn hard to the left. I aborted the takeoff. Brought the throttles to idle and applied maximum braking but did not activate reverse thrust. The aircraft was only moving at 20 KTS or so at the time of the abort. There was heavy buffeting and the aircraft continued to the left even when the steering tiller was used to [attempt to] bring the aircraft right. The aircraft came to a stop on the left side of the runway. After we came to a stop; I attempted to taxi and the aircraft responded correctly to nosewheel steering. We decided to clear the runway and no abnormalities were noted [while doing so]. We then decided to return to the gate under our own power. Maintenance changed the right nose wheel tire due to heavy sidewall scuffing. After inspection of the nosewheel steering system no problems were found. An air carrier flight crew witnessed the event while holding short of Runway 33R. They reported to us on the radio that the nose gear was turned 45 degrees to the left; skidding and smoking until the aircraft came to a stop.The event could not have been prevented. In retrospect; if I had brought the throttles to reverse the forward thrust would have been stopped instantly. It took some time for the engines to spool down to idle thrust. Because of the slow speed at which the abort occurred; it was not intuitive to go to Max reverse. After much thought on the events of yesterday; this is the only thing I would change.
An MD11 starting the takeoff roll was unable to center the nose gear steering and rejected the takeoff at low speed.