Light Airplane Damaged by Prop Wash from Turbine Airplane Maintenance Run-Up

Incident Details

The Aero Club operations chief reported that a flight instructor and pilot were taxiing on a taxiway under air traffic control (ATC) instruction when their light single-engine airplane encountered prop wash from a larger, twin-engine turbine-powered airplane. The larger airplane was performing a maintenance engine run-up in a location adjacent to the active taxiway. At no time during their taxi were the occupants of the light airplane informed by ATC of the larger airplane's intentions. The light airplane was subsequently blown from its position while taxiing behind the larger airplane, causing substantial damage to its forward wing-spar.

Additional Information

The Aero Club operations chief also stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot of the larger turbine-powered airplane reported that all requests for engine start, taxi, and high power runs were coordinated with ATC. He added that they had to reposition due to tailwinds, but a radio call was made to ATC acknowledging that they had repositioned on the ramp to face into the wind. He heard the light airplane receive a taxi clearance but did not hear any communications questioning the larger airplane's status or position with respect to potential impact on aircraft taxiing behind them on the taxiway. He became aware of the light airplane's situation after the event when the pilot of the light airplane made a radio call to ground control.