B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Weather; Airport
We arrived in the evening and the weather was overcast with rain; temperature of 45F. Overnight; a front moved in and dropped about 3 inches of snow; with the temperature falling well below freezing. We pushed back from the gate and deiced/anti iced according to company procedures. During the deice process; we noticed an operations vehicle clearing and plowing snow; mixed with a few doughnuts and power slides well away from any aircraft or equipment. We started both engines and proceeded forward; knowing the ramp might be slick. Our taxi speed was approximately 3 knots as we started a very slight downhill taxi toward Taxiway V to make a left hand turn. As I turned the nose wheel steering to the left; a strong gust from the west (right) struck the aircraft and the aircraft slowly turned to the right. As I slowly applied brakes; the main wheels lost traction and the aircraft began sliding. I then released the brakes and reapplied; hoping to regain some traction; but to no avail. I then deployed reverse thrust and the aircraft stopped. We slowly crept forward again and were able to make the turn. The Tower asked if we were having difficulties in that area to which we replied yes. They then said that an RJ700 had experienced similar conditions in that area. Nothing was noted in the ATIS or during taxi clearance from ATC. They said they would have the county come out and sand the area again. Better winter facility preparation from the airport operations folks and information about the RJ sliding may have been helpful; but advisory only. I operated as cautiously as could reasonably be expected and just wound up with a bad set of circumstances.
B717 Captain describes a momentary loss of control while taxiing on an ice covered down hill taxiway. A gust of wind causes the aircraft to slide and only reverse thrust arrests the motion.