# NTSB LAX08LA283: Cessna 172, N5329L, Honolulu, HI, July 30, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 2008, 09:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Honolulu, HI - Coordinates: 21.318611, -157.9225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3186&lon=-157.9225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68824/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA283 ## Probable cause The flight's encounter with the jet wash from a parked commercial airplane while taxiing for takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) and her student were taxiing southwest on taxiway Charlie when ground control told them to switch to the tower frequency and monitor. As they approached the intersection of Charlie and Delta taxiways, the airplane started to tip over, and through the left window they could feel the warm air of jet wash coming from a parked MD-11 airplane. The jet wash lifted the airplane up and dropped it down, the propeller struck the taxiway, and then the airplane spun around to the right pivoting on the right wing tip. The CFI shut the engine down and both her and the student egressed the airplane. The MD-11's cargo was live animals and the number 2 (tail) engine was being operated to provide power to cool the airplane. There was no requirement at the time for parked airplanes to notify ground control when starting an engine. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2008, at 0951 Hawaii standard time, a Cessna 172, N5329L, was lifted and spun around while taxing by the jet wash of parked MD-11, at Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. Flight School Hawaii, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, that she and her student were taxing southwest on taxiway Charlie when ground control told them to switch to the tower frequency and monitor. As they approached the intersection of Charlie taxiway and Delta taxiway, the airplane started to tip over, and through the left window they could feel the warm air of jet wash coming from a parked MD-11 FedEx airplane. The jet wash lifted the airplane up and dropped it down, the propeller struck the taxiway, and then the airplane spun around to the right pivoting on the right wing tip. The CFI shut the engine down and both her and the student egressed the airplane. FedEx personnel told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the cargo was live animals (horses) and that the airplane interior needed to be cooled. The airplane's auxiliary power unit (APU) was not operational, and the ground power unit was malfunctioning and could not provide cooling for the airplane. The number 2 engine (tail engine) was started in order to provide power to run the air conditioning packs so the cabin could be cooled. The FAA Inspector determined that there was no requirement for the FedEx airplane to notify ground control when starting an engine. FedEx does notify ground control when requesting a push back or performing maintenance engine run ups when in the parking or gate areas. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5329L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5329L-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 172S9332, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9332 - Airframe hours: 4316 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight School Hawaii, Inc., doing business as Flight School Hawaii - Registered owner: John Howard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 8, 2008 - Departed: PHNL, Honolulu, HI - Destination: PHNL, Honolulu, HI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PHNL, Honolulu International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review June 26, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 2,200 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 2,090 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: PHNL, 3 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080730848549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080730848549A), Jul 30, 2008: Cessna 172S, Honolulu, HI, Substantial damage. (-23) While taxiing for takeoff, a Cessna 172, N5329L was struck on the side by the jet blast of a parked MD-11, N584FE, that had an engine running. The… ## Other investigations on N5329L (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB WPR10CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA019), Oct 17, 2009: Cessna 172S (N5329L), Honolulu, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of airplane control after the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll. - [NTSB LAX03LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA170), May 29, 2003: Cessna 172S (N5329L), Kapolei, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare, and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the airplane. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.