New serious incident report august 2007
During the application of take off power, there was an asymmetric build up of engine thrust causing the left engine to lag the right engine. This caused a yawing moment that resulted in a loss of directional control. The aircraft yawed approximately 40° and departed the partially snow covered runway in spite of the crew selecting engine idle, applying nose wheel steering and braking. The aircraft continued to move forward at a slow speed off the paved area and onto an area of snow-covered soft ground. The nose wheel created a large furrow as the aircraft came to a stop in snow and soil at an angle of approximately 40° to the runway centre line. The tail and the nose of the aircraft were 12 m and 35 m from the runway edge respectively. The distance from the runway centre line to the edge was 22.5 m.
Damage to the aircraft was limited to a punctured left nose wheel tyre, a separated and deformed left nose wheel hubcap and a broken nose leg taxi light.