Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Weather
Was doing a training flight for a rusty pilot returning to flight. Wind was about 270/17 [kts.] G24. We were taxiing from parking to Runway XX. Pilot seemed to be fine on the taxi. I was looking down trying to fix some static on my headset by readjusting the plugs. The aircraft rotated suddenly to the right and off the taxiway into the grass. I took control and taxied back onto the taxiway. No further issues. We ended up not flying due to the strong crosswind.My analysis was that the pilot was overpowered by a strong gust from the right that was strong enough to rotate the plane about 30 degrees to the right. The pilot hit full left rudder but did not apply brakes or try and counter with brakes due to his lack of experience. My fault as I should not have been heads down. He just got hit by a very strong gust and didn't react properly. The taxi back onto the taxiway was uneventful but I was a bit more observant!
C172 instructor pilot reported that while the student was taxiing a strong gust of wind rotated the aircraft and it went off the taxiway. Flight instructor regained control and taxied back onto the taxiway.