flying into snow showers without deice

I'm presuming flying IFR in light snow in a Skylane RG with no deice
equipment other that the pitot heat is OK if the temp is low enough to
preclude sticking, perhaps -10c or less.

This comes up as I contemplate flying to Minneapolis early next week.

Just is case there could be other opinions though...

Doug Carter wrote:

I'm presuming flying IFR in light snow in a Skylane RG with no deice
equipment other that the pitot heat is OK if the temp is low enough to
preclude sticking, perhaps -10c or less.

This comes up as I contemplate flying to Minneapolis early next week.

Just is case there could be other opinions though...

I trained for my instrument rating downwind of Lake Ontario, New York
State, during the winter of '02-'03. Most of my 17 or so hours of actual
instrument conditions logged during the training were in moderate to heavy
lake effect snow in temperatures from -2 to -15 degrees C.

Other than a very light, white film on the leading edges, the snow never
stuck to the C172 in any mass to cause concern during these, or any
subsequent flights.

--
Peter







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If you can see then you are ok. Even heavy wet snow isn't really a problem.
Sometimes clouds can be "embeded" in the snow and they may contain ice.

Mike
MU-2


"Doug Carter" wrote in message
om...
I'm presuming flying IFR in light snow in a Skylane RG with no deice
equipment other that the pitot heat is OK if the temp is low enough to
preclude sticking, perhaps -10c or less.

This comes up as I contemplate flying to Minneapolis early next week.

Just is case there could be other opinions though...

From my real life experience: your wings are not the main problem - but the
prop. I had 2 flights in where I had to go through light snow for landing
and always the prop. was "iced" (from the spinner to half of the blades
appr. - thats why the prop heating sits exactly there, if you have it ;-) -
when you get out of the airplane and see it you are scared.

If you have to go missed - I have my doubts that you will be able to get all
the power. Now add some little ice on the wings/frame, more time in light
snow, maybe even divert - I am not going to do that again.

Bernd

"Doug Carter" wrote:
I'm presuming flying IFR in light snow in a Skylane RG with no deice
equipment other that the pitot heat is OK if the temp is low enough to
preclude sticking, perhaps -10c or less.

Bernd Seitter wrote:

I had 2 flights in where I had to go through light snow for landing
and always the prop. was "iced" (from the spinner to half of the blades

Were you sure that wasn't from the clouds?

--
Peter







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Bernd Seitter wrote:
From my real life experience: your wings are not the main problem - but the
prop. I had 2 flights in where I had to go through light snow for landing
and always the prop. was "iced" (from the spinner to half of the blades

do you happen to remember what the temperature was?

Any ice on your prop came from flying through cloud, not snow. Snow is
already frozen and doesn't stick.

Mike
MU-2


"Bernd Seitter" wrote in message
...
From my real life experience: your wings are not the main problem - but
the prop. I had 2 flights in where I had to go through light snow for
landing and always the prop. was "iced" (from the spinner to half of the
blades appr. - thats why the prop heating sits exactly there, if you have
it ;-) - when you get out of the airplane and see it you are scared.

If you have to go missed - I have my doubts that you will be able to get
all the power. Now add some little ice on the wings/frame, more time in
light snow, maybe even divert - I am not going to do that again.

Bernd

"Doug Carter" wrote:
I'm presuming flying IFR in light snow in a Skylane RG with no deice
equipment other that the pitot heat is OK if the temp is low enough to
preclude sticking, perhaps -10c or less.

Mike Rapoport wrote:

Any ice on your prop came from flying through cloud, not snow. Snow is
already frozen and doesn't stick.

Wet snow can stick. A snowflake that falls into warm air (above
freezing air) doesn't instantly turn to water. Parts of it may be water
while other parts are frozen. This can stick to the airframe, or,
particularly on certain Cessnas, quickly clog the air intake.

I never had trouble in the 182 below about 25F, but I quickly clogged
the air intake in heavy snow at about 32-34F once.


Matt

If it is melting then the temp is above 0Cand the water content isn't
supercooled and it won't stick. It can certainly clog the intake though.

Mike
MU-2


"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Mike Rapoport wrote:

Any ice on your prop came from flying through cloud, not snow. Snow is
already frozen and doesn't stick.

Wet snow can stick. A snowflake that falls into warm air (above freezing
air) doesn't instantly turn to water. Parts of it may be water while
other parts are frozen. This can stick to the airframe, or, particularly
on certain Cessnas, quickly clog the air intake.

I never had trouble in the 182 below about 25F, but I quickly clogged the
air intake in heavy snow at about 32-34F once.


Matt

Mike Rapoport wrote:

If it is melting then the temp is above 0Cand the water content isn't
supercooled and it won't stick. It can certainly clog the intake though.

Well, it CAN stick as I've collected it a number of times on 172 and 182
airplanes. I can't explain for certainty why, but I'm guessing it is
the combination of water and ice crystals in the same snowflake that mix
and stick upon impact.

You don't fly much in PA in the winter without encountering snow of all
forms (and there are many forms of snow). Most doesn't stick, but some
does if the conditions are right.

Matt