Icing tape - lessons learned.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
This is the audio tape of a Fed Ex Caravan pilot who tangled with some
severe icing conditions.

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photoga...78L-Mayday.mp3

(It's a good-sized .mp3 file, so be patient while it downloads...)

This was given to me by our local FAA safety guy, to share with our
airport user's group. The stark terror in her voice is chilling, and
really points out how quickly things can go bad.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Ok, since the previous thread has degenerated into a urinating contest about
the tone of the pilots voice - I will start a new thread in an attempt to
discuss what could be learned from this incident. (And, yes I was one of
the guilty parties.)

1) I suspect (knowing nothing beyond what I heard) that the pilot failed to
recognize the ice buildup untill control was lost. I ASSUME that she was in
the soup at the time - so the lesson here is pay attention - it's cold, you
are in the clouds, look out the window and watch for ice. Right?

2) Don't give up the ship. Even after loosing control, loosing lots of
altitude, etc. She kept fighting, figgured out what was wrong, applied the
appropriate counter measures (boots and heat - albeit a bit late) and got it
back. She also managed to give the "look out below" warning to ATC.

3) Instruments lie. It sounds like the peito (how the heck do you spell
that - I've tried a dozen different ways and none of them look right) froze
(she said she couldn't control airspeed). Knowing that she had a load of ice
would, I think, make one suspect the IAS and I would think that the sound
and feel of the aircraft should have helped her realize that the actual
airspeed was OK? Of course the ice would have effected the handling and made
it more difficult to know exactly what was lying to her. A quick switch to
alternate static might have been in order (She may or may not have done
that) or a cross check with GPS (which I assume she had) might have been a
good idea too (she may or may not have done that also).
How do you know WHICH instrument is lying to you? You have to ignore your
inner ear, but sound and feel?

What else?

Disclaimer - I ain't never flown with anything more than a hint of ice (the
rain drops stopped moving on the windscreen). And I've never flown in IMC or
with de-ice equipment.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
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