Jay
Helicopters don't handle ice very well at all. Think of how it affects
the wings of airplanes? The rotor blades are the wings for a helicopter
and can't handle much ice at all. Long before there is enough ice to
sling off the blades, the helicopter is on its way to the ground either
under control, or out of control! The helicopters are much more
sensitive to weight than most airplanes, and the addition of weight in
the form of ice is real bad news for rotorcraft aside from blade ice.
For reference, I've got about 9000 hrs in rotor and another 13-14000 in
FW and more than 1500 actual IFR. I've experienced lots of icing
conditions in airplanes and if there is any ice forecast on my route of
flight in a helicopter...I simply don't go.
I've been forced to the ground in FW a couple times with clear ice and
shudder to think of what those same conditions would have done to me in
helicopters.
As for the EMS people, while I applaud their go get'em attitude, they
too must make an executive decision when icing conditions are present.
The simple aerodynamic rules could care less about ability or attitude!
Ice is to be feared and respected. For more info, check on
rec.aviation.rotorcraft and post the same questions. Or, better yet, go
to Just Helicopters.com and pose the same questions there for a lot of
answers by some highly experienced rotor people. The "Original" forum
has some real wise asses that pop up, but is also frequented by the old
pros. The new forum is more serious and if you post on each, you'll see
some interesting answers. Go take a look...!
Ol Shy & Bashful