Commercial Fixed Wing
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
I was taxiing after a high power run up and deviated from ATC taxi instructions. I was taxiing the aircraft and operating the radios as the other Mechanic was uncomfortable using the radios with ATC. The Mechanic did ask before the start of our pushback to taxi while I run the radios; I declined his request as I have never conducted high power runs with this mechanic while he is in control of the aircraft. When we arrived at the 33 block; ATC instructed us to maneuver the aircraft to a different heading than we are accustomed; to direct jet blast away from any taxiways and approach runways. This heading put Taxiway H out of my sight and to the right. When we were done with the high power runs ATC instructed us to taxi via H; cross 22; and hold short 1. When we began our taxi I missed H and proceeded forward onto F and onto Runway 22 about 100 FT and stopped the aircraft realizing my mistake. ATC called us and said to hold our position as we were not on H as instructed. She cleared other aircraft and instructed us to taxi down 22 to B short K. I became a little disoriented as we were now at the intersection of Runway 1 and 22. ATC then began to give us comprehensive taxi instructions. Once we had cleared 22 on B; ATC stated that I needed to review local taxiways before conducting any further taxiing here in DCA. I spoke to the ATC controller the next morning and explained to her my mistake and she said at no time where I stopped the aircraft was there a runway incursion event. When Maintenance is cleared to run on the 33 run block we usually face the aircraft towards Taxiway H so we have some real estate in front of the aircraft as the 33 run block is very shallow. We then are usually directed to taxi back to the ramp via H which is a straight forward taxi; when ATC asked us to face the aircraft on a more westerly heading that put Taxiway H off to our right and F directly in front of us. We were cleared to taxi by ATC on H; cross Runway 22; and hold short of Runway 1. I taxied straight about 100 FT on F onto Runway 22 which we were cleared to cross by ATC instead of a right turn onto H. I immediately noticed there were no hold short lines for Runway 1 as this is an intersecting runway with 1. I at that time noticed my mistake and immediately stopped the aircraft. I being fairly new to DCA and being used to taxiing straight forward out of the 33 block onto H; I taxied straight onto F. I went back through the Run/Taxi; Runway Incursion training program including the test. More importantly I reviewed and more thoroughly comprehend DCA's airport diagram as well. In the future I will always be more aware of my location; verify and comprehend ATC instructions prior to any aircraft movement.
Air Carrier Mechanic reports a taxiway incursion when cleared to taxi at the completion of a high power engine run up in the Runway 33 pad at DCA. The aircraft was aligned on a westerly heading by ATC and resulted in the reporter entering Runway 22 on Taxiway F with a clearance to cross Runway 22 on Taxiway H.