19971223039549A

Visibility reduced by blowing snow taxiing on ramp. Struck a 2FT high perpenicular snowbank. Made by snow plow. (.19) on December 23, 1997, about 0903 eastern standard time, a Beech 1900D, N140ZV, owned by mesa airlines, inc., and doing business as usairways express flight 5286, was substantially damaged when its propellers struck a snow bank while taxing on the ramp at the Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The two flight crewmembers and three passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at flushing, new york, about 0831. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR part 121. According to the flight crew, the flight from new york to Windsor Locks was uneventful. After landing, the airplane was taxied to the ramp area by the pilot-in-command (PIC). The PIC stated that while taxiing on the ramp to their gate, the visibility was reduced due to blowing snow. The second-in-command (SIC) stated that while taxiing, he observed a snow bank as it passed under the nose of the airplane. Before the SIC could inform the PIC of the snow bank, he heard a "sl apping" noise on the side of the airplane. The crew then shut down both engines. According to a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector, examination of the airplane revealed two propeller blades had separated from the right engine's propeller hub, and had struck the right side of the airplane's fuselage. A tear was observed in the right side of the fuselage skin, and the cabin window in the vicinity of seats 1F and 2F was pushed into the fuselage cabin. Additional damage included a cracked fuselage frame member and the right engine nacelle had shifted. The FAA inspector stated that the 28 inch high snow bank that the airplane taxied into, was on the ramp taxiway perpendicular to the airplane's direction of movement. The snow bank was a result of airport snow plowing operations. The airport reported the visibility to be 1/4 mile in snow, and the winds were from 350 degrees at 11 knots. (.4) after landing, the airplane was taxied to the ramp by the pilot-in-command (PIC). The visibility was reduced due to blowing snow. The second-in-command (SIC) stated that while taxiing, he observed a snow bank as it passed under the nose of the airplane. Before he could inform th after landing, the airplane was taxied to the ramp by the pilot-in-command (PIC). The visibility was reduced due to blowing snow. The second-in-command (SIC) stated that while taxiing, he observed a snow bank as it passed under the nose of the airplane. Before he could inform the PIC, he heard a 'slapping' noise on the side of the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed two propeller blades had separated from the right engine's propeller hub, and had struck the right side of the airplane's fuselage. The airplane had taxied into a 28 inch high snow bank that ran perpendicular to its path across the ramp. The snow had been left on the ramp by airport snow plowing operations. Neither the airport NOTAMS nor the airports terminal information service (ATIS) reported the snow banks across the ramp. During the same time frame, an Airbus and a Boeing 727 became stuck while taxiing in the snow at the airport. (-23) on December 23, 1997, about 0915 eastern standard time, a Beech 1900D, N140ZV, owned by mesa airlines, inc. and doing business as us airways express flight 5288, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snow ba nk while taxiing on the ramp at the Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT. The flight crew of two and three passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at flushing, new york. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR part 121. According to the flight crew, the flight from new york to Windsor Locks was uneventful. After landing, the airplane was taxiied to the ramp area by the pilot-in-command (PIC). The PIC stated that while taxiing on the ramp to their gate, the visibility was reduced due to blowing snow. The second-in-command (SIC) stated that while taxiing, he observed a snow bank as it passed under the nose on the side of the airplane. The crew then shut down both engines. According to a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector, examination of the airplane revealed two propeller blades had separated from the right engine's prpeller hub, and had struck the right side of the airplane's fuselage. A tear was observed in the right side of the fuselage skin, and the cabin window in the vicinity of seats 1F and 2F was pushed into the fuselage cabin . Additional damage included a cracked fuselage frame member and the right engine nacelle had shifted. The FAA inspector stated that the 28 inch high snow bank that the airplane taxiied into, was perpendicular to the airplane's direction of movement, and was a result of airport snow plowing operations. The airport reported the visibility to be 1/4 mile in snow, and the winds were from 350 degrees at 11 knots.