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A C340 pilot reported losing control of his aircraft while taxiing for takeoff when an apparent gust of wind suddenly turned the aircraft 90 degrees right.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 900420 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201007 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 340/340A |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Taxi |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 111 Flight Crew Total 6830 Flight Crew Type 93 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Ground Excursion Taxiway Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control |
Narrative:
While taxiing for takeoff a wind gust or wake turbulence abruptly started turning the plane to the right. Use of rudder and/or brake(s) did not arrest turning moment. Ended up 90 degrees to taxiway; rolled off the prepared surface; and came to a stop on the grass. Did not hit any lights or signs and taxi route back to concrete was clear. Tower asked intentions and approved taxi operation and return to concrete. Once back on concrete; plane felt normal and tower approved departure. Rest of flight was uneventful. Winds were not that strong; but close proximity of buildings and touchdown zone may have contributed swirling; gusty condition. [I] was cleared for takeoff and not planning on stopping at hold short line. [I] was getting ready for a more than 90 degree turn onto the active runway. There was no difficulty with directional control before or following the event. [I] was not expecting it and was surprised at how quickly it turned me and my inability to control it. [I] had left ground control frequency to monitor tower and was loading departure frequency into radio when nose started turning. [I] did not consider adding power on right engine to counteract turning moment to the right. [I] did not shut engines down because I was moving towards a clear; grassy area and airplane was slowing down.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C340 pilot reported losing control of his aircraft while taxiing for takeoff when an apparent gust of wind suddenly turned the aircraft 90 degrees right.
Narrative: While taxiing for takeoff a wind gust or wake turbulence abruptly started turning the plane to the right. Use of rudder and/or brake(s) did not arrest turning moment. Ended up 90 degrees to taxiway; rolled off the prepared surface; and came to a stop on the grass. Did not hit any lights or signs and taxi route back to concrete was clear. Tower asked intentions and approved taxi operation and return to concrete. Once back on concrete; plane felt normal and Tower approved departure. Rest of flight was uneventful. Winds were not that strong; but close proximity of buildings and touchdown zone may have contributed swirling; gusty condition. [I] was cleared for takeoff and not planning on stopping at hold short line. [I] was getting ready for a more than 90 degree turn onto the active runway. There was no difficulty with directional control before or following the event. [I] was not expecting it and was surprised at how quickly it turned me and my inability to control it. [I] had left Ground Control frequency to monitor Tower and was loading Departure frequency into radio when nose started turning. [I] did not consider adding power on right engine to counteract turning moment to the right. [I] did not shut engines down because I was moving towards a clear; grassy area and airplane was slowing down.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.