Narrative:

I was pilot flying. Departing at intersection due to construction-shortened runway. Set takeoff thrust and the aircraft began to veer to the right as thrust on the left engine increased more rapidly than the right engine. Reduced power to both engines while inputting left nosewheel steering. Scuffed a nosewheel tire during this maneuver. The entire incident lasted about 5 seconds and speed was definitely less than 40 knots (lowest indicated speed on instruments) and estimated at closer to 20 knots. No injuries. Return to gate. Maintenance personnel advised me that a nosewheel tire would have to be replaced. The iae engine has a notably large power differential between the initial spool up setting and takeoff setting. This is due to the fact that the engine has a 'keep out zone' at the lower power band wherein power may not be utilized under static or low speed conditions. Thus if one engine spools faster than the other the effect is more pronounced than other engine options. Additionally the airbus doesn't have wheels that caster as do other aircraft types; i.e. Boeing. Thus nosewheel turning speed is more critical on the airbus type and according to the mechanic is more prone to scuffing.suggest extra vigilance. It took me about a second more than the first officer to realize what was happening. By then the nose of the aircraft was starting to point off the centerline of the runway. The power could have been reduced more rapidly; even though the first officer said he didn't think the right engine ever quite got to takeoff power.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A321 flight crew reported rejecting the takeoff when the Captain had directional control difficulties related to uneven engine spool-up.

Narrative: I was pilot flying. Departing at intersection due to construction-shortened runway. Set takeoff thrust and the aircraft began to veer to the right as thrust on the left engine increased more rapidly than the right engine. Reduced power to both engines while inputting left nosewheel steering. Scuffed a nosewheel tire during this maneuver. The entire incident lasted about 5 seconds and speed was definitely less than 40 knots (lowest indicated speed on instruments) and estimated at closer to 20 knots. No injuries. Return to gate. Maintenance personnel advised me that a nosewheel tire would have to be replaced. The IAE engine has a notably large power differential between the initial spool up setting and takeoff setting. This is due to the fact that the engine has a 'keep out zone' at the lower power band wherein power may not be utilized under static or low speed conditions. Thus if one engine spools faster than the other the effect is more pronounced than other engine options. Additionally the Airbus doesn't have wheels that caster as do other aircraft types; i.e. Boeing. Thus nosewheel turning speed is more critical on the Airbus type and according to the mechanic is more prone to scuffing.Suggest extra vigilance. It took me about a second more than the first officer to realize what was happening. By then the nose of the aircraft was starting to point off the centerline of the runway. The power could have been reduced more rapidly; even though the first officer said he didn't think the right engine ever quite got to takeoff power.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.