DC87 rejects takeoff due to loss of steering control.

Attributes
ACN	781463
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 70
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	781463
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	781461
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

First officer takeoff. 265000 pounds reduced thrust 85.0% N1. Center of gravity 27.0. Engines spooled to approximately 40% with aircraft stopped on centerline. First officer took aircraft for takeoff; released brakes and set takeoff power. Aircraft started to veer to the right and the first officer applied full left rudder to try to maintain the centerline. The aircraft continued to pull right of centerline. I then took control of the aircraft and aborted with maximum braking and reverse thrust. The abort speed was approximately 50-60 KTS. All engine and hydraulic indications were normal before and during the takeoff. The aircraft was stopped on the runway surface. I shut down the engines after the tower was notified to call for a tug. We remained aboard the aircraft while the aircraft was towed to the ramp.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC87 REJECTS TKOF DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Narrative: FO TKOF. 265000 LBS REDUCED THRUST 85.0% N1. CTR OF GRAVITY 27.0. ENGS SPOOLED TO APPROX 40% WITH ACFT STOPPED ON CTRLINE. FO TOOK ACFT FOR TKOF; RELEASED BRAKES AND SET TKOF PWR. ACFT STARTED TO VEER TO THE R AND THE FO APPLIED FULL L RUDDER TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE CTRLINE. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO PULL R OF CTRLINE. I THEN TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AND ABORTED WITH MAX BRAKING AND REVERSE THRUST. THE ABORT SPD WAS APPROX 50-60 KTS. ALL ENG AND HYD INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL BEFORE AND DURING THE TKOF. THE ACFT WAS STOPPED ON THE RWY SURFACE. I SHUT DOWN THE ENGS AFTER THE TWR WAS NOTIFIED TO CALL FOR A TUG. WE REMAINED ABOARD THE ACFT WHILE THE ACFT WAS TOWED TO THE RAMP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.