Incident Description
Flight 335, a Short SD3-60, was cleared to taxi into position and hold behind a departing Boeing 747-400. As the SD3-60 taxied forward of the hold line, the pilot lost control of the airplane, and it was blown into a blast fence by the thrust of the departing aircraft.
Pilot Experience
The pilot-in-command (PIC) had 44 hours in type, with 10 hours as PIC, and had previously served as a first officer on an ATR-42. The second-in-command (SIC) had 49 hours in type and came from a general aviation background.
Manufacturer Information
The manufacturer, Short Brothers, was queried regarding the effect of high-velocity wind on the SD3-60. They stated that a wind of approximately 70 knots perpendicular to the fuselage could upset the airplane. This information was not available to the pilots in the flight manual or from the operator.
Company Policy
The company had a crew pairing policy that prohibited pairing two low-time crewmembers together. However, this policy was waived by the vice president of flight operations for the crew, as the flight was a positioning flight only.