EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Taking off [Runway] XXL; we had a flight control malfunction. As I was advancing the thrust levers; we immediately began to drift to the right and it felt like the left rudder was jammed. When I tried applying the left rudder; the left brake would actuate. We quickly realized this and rejected the takeoff before reaching even 10 knots as I could not correct to get back on center line. We taxied off and went back to the gate without further incident. Upon arrival at the gate; Maintenance came to inspect the aircraft. Maintenance thought the rudders were operating fine when they inspected the plane and could not tell the left side felt jammed/locked up. Because of this; they wanted us to do a HIGH SPEED taxi. Because nose wheel steering was normal; I said I would be willing to taxi the aircraft but not at a high speed. Before even leaving the ramp area; it was evident to all parties the left rudder pedal was still activating the brake and felt jammed/stiff.The most concerning thing about this incident is we experienced the flight control malfunction only on the takeoff roll and the fact that Maintenance did not know what normal operation of the rudder pedals felt like. They were ready to sign-off on the plane after the proposed high-speed taxi. It felt undermining to me as a flight crew member that Maintenance did not believe our issue/write-up. More concerning is the fact Maintenance could not tell the rudder pedals were functioning improperly at the gate even though the FO (First Officer) and I could easily feel the left side was not operating correctly. NOTE: Aircraft X had A SIMILAR ISSUE before during takeoff in ZZZ1. I had the same trouble with a rejected takeoff due to a pulsating brake and veering to the right; which ended in a high-speed reject. REFER TO [Report]; DATE. This was the first time I had a brake/rudder issue in Aircraft X.
Captain reported a rejected take off and return to gate because of aircraft controllability issues.