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NTSB Report

July 30, 2008 · Cessna 172 S · N5329L

Honolulu, HI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 30, 2008
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Honolulu, HI
Aircraft
Cessna 172 S
Tail Number
N5329L
Operator
Flight School Hawaii
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX08LA283

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and her student were taxiing southwest on taxiway Charlie when ground control told them to switch to the tower frequency and monitor. As they approached the intersection of Charlie and Delta taxiways, the airplane started to tip over, and through the left window they could feel the warm air of jet wash coming from a parked MD-11 airplane. The jet wash lifted the airplane up and dropped it down, the propeller struck the taxiway, and then the airplane spun around to the right pivoting on the right wing tip. The CFI shut the engine down and both her and the student egressed the airplane. The MD-11's cargo was live animals and the number 2 (tail) engine was being operated to provide power to cool the airplane. There was no requirement at the time for parked airplanes to notify ground control when starting an engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Attain/maintain not possible - C

Full Narrative

On July 30, 2008, at 0951 Hawaii standard time, a Cessna 172, N5329L, was lifted and spun around while taxing by the jet wash of parked MD-11, at Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. Flight School Hawaii, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, that she and her student were taxing southwest on taxiway Charlie when ground control told them to switch to the tower frequency and monitor. As they approached the intersection of Charlie taxiway and Delta taxiway, the airplane started to tip over, and through the left window they could feel the warm air of jet wash coming from a parked MD-11 FedEx airplane. The jet wash lifted the airplane up and dropped it down, the propeller struck the taxiway, and then the airplane spun around to the right pivoting on the right wing tip. The CFI shut the engine down and both her and the student egressed the airplane. FedEx personnel told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the cargo was live animals (horses) and that the airplane interior needed to be cooled. The airplane's auxiliary power unit (APU) was not operational, and the ground power unit was malfunctioning and could not provide cooling for the airplane. The number 2 engine (tail engine) was started in order to provide power to run the air conditioning packs so the cabin could be cooled. The FAA Inspector determined that there was no requirement for the FedEx airplane to notify ground control when starting an engine. FedEx does notify ground control when requesting a push back or performing maintenance engine run ups when in the parking or gate areas.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:50 HST
Nearest AirportHonolulu International (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172 S
Tail NumberN5329L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFlight School Hawaii
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time19:00
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data