A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Airport; Weather
We got de-iced and anti-iced in the alley with the engines off. Once cleared by the de-icers we started both engines; put the engine anti-ice on; and proceeded to taxi out of the alley. The alley and ramp area were a mixture of loose and packed snow. Once we were on [Taxiway] D; the taxiways were clear of snow to the pavement; but were still a bit icy. As we taxied we noticed a slight engine vibration. At an intersection short of the runway was a good; non-icy portion of pavement where we ran up the engines. We noticed a significant vibration in the Number 1 engine and no vibration on the Number 2 engine. We told ATC that we needed to return to the gate and they cleared us back to the ramp. A post flight inspection revealed several damaged fan blades on the Number 1 engine. Maintenance was called and a log book entry was made.
Airport Operations needed to have the ramp and taxiways plowed better.
The flight crew of an A320 noted excessive vibration in the left engine during taxi out after being de and anti-iced at the gate. They returned to the gate for an inspection which revealed several damaged fan blades.