Incident Overview
A three-person flight crew consisting of a captain, first officer, and flight engineer were taxiing a transport category airplane to the active runway for a positioning flight. During the taxi, they proceeded beyond the last access to the runway and entered a confined ramp area.
Ground Controller Intervention
A ground controller observed the situation and asked the flight crew whether they could maneuver the airplane back or if they required a tug to reposition. A crewmember responded that they would maneuver without ground assistance.
Attempted Turnaround
In an attempt to turn around, the flight crew selected reverse thrust and backed the airplane toward a private hangar. Subsequently, they selected forward thrust. The resulting jet blast damaged two hangars and their contents, and seriously injured a person who was inside one of the hangars.
Departure and Notification
After the incident, the flight crew proceeded to the runway and departed. Upon arrival at their destination on the West Coast, they were informed of the damage and the ground injury.
Chart Review
A review of the published Jeppesen airport chart, which was required to be onboard the airplane, indicated that the flight crew had taxied the airplane into an area closed to aircraft weighing 59,000 pounds and over. Additionally, aircraft operations with over 30 passenger seats were restricted in that area.