SA-227 AC Metro III
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 91; Flight Crew Total 3305; Flight Crew Type 681
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
On runway centerline for takeoff; holding the brakes; speed levers were advanced to high with normal indications. Power was advanced while holding the power lever nose steering button. There were no abnormal indications. At 20%; brakes were released; airspeed alive and the nose steering button released. After releasing the nose steering button the airplane started veering slowly to the right; initial corrections were attempted with rudder usage. The airplane continued to veer to the right and did not respond to corrections; at which point an aborted takeoff was commenced. Power levers were reduced to idle; full left rudder was deflected by this point; and brake was used with no change in directional control of the airplane. In an effort to stop the airplane; power levers were brought cautiously into reverse to try to avoid aggravating further the loss of direction control. It was all ineffective at trying to redirect the airplane back towards the centerline and it continued towards the edge of the runway. Efforts at slowing the airplane down and/or stopping before it went off the runway were unsuccessful as well. As it went off into the grass; the left propeller struck a runway light. After the plane stopped; both engines were shut down after advising tower.
SA-227 Captain reported rejecting the takeoff when directional control became an issue during the initial power application. He was unsuccessful at preventing the aircraft from departing the runway using rudder; differential braking; and reverse thrust. The left propeller struck a runway light.