An Air Carrier flight beginning their takeoff roll on Runway 22L at ORD momentarily lost directional control when they encountered the jet blast of a B777 spooling up for takeoff on Runway 28.
Synopsis
An Air Carrier flight beginning their takeoff roll on Runway 22L at ORD momentarily lost directional control when they encountered the jet blast of a B777 spooling up for takeoff on Runway 28.
Narrative
We were cleared for takeoff on ORD Runway 22L. As I taxied from the holding area into position on Runway 22L I looked over and saw a 777 Jumbo Jet simultaneously taxi into position on Runway 28. The winds were from our right; 260 at 18 gusting to 27. I turned the aircraft over to the First Officer and as he was bringing the power up from idle the aircraft began sliding to the left and weathervaning to the right; due to the huge gust of wind coming from our right. I recognized this as coming from the 777 and came onto the controls to steer us a very short distance out of the jet blast and back to the Runway 22L centerline; using the tiller wheel. After checking that all was normal; we proceeded with the takeoff. The rest of the flight to our destination was uneventful. Runway 22L is a wonderful and useful runway; but it is important to acknowledge its hazards. If we had been fully powered up and moving forward on the less-than-dry runway when this occurred; the outcome could easily have been seriously different.
Second reporter narrative
Runway 22L was contaminated with the centerline basically clear; but wet and slick. Off the centerline the runway had 1/4 inch snow. We notified Departure Control of the potential hazard. The learning point is the jet blast from a big jet on Runway 28 can potentially push you off a slick Runway 22L at ORD. This is the same place where another aircraft of our type slid off Runway 22L approximately a year ago.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.