Hangar Flying High Winged Turbo Props

[mnewbery]

This thread follows on from CBR-MEL trip report by Carlosmoochous

 

Below are some relevant links that expand on the comments made by sixtiesrelic (with thanks)

 

Avweb reports that NTSB want better icing defenses for large turbo props (it never happened, the NPRM wasn't released)

 

http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/FAAProposesPart25IcingAmendments_202799-1.html (June 29, 2010)

 

Icing Primer (wikipedia)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icing_conditions

 

IN 1994 American Eagle Flight 4104 (an ATR 72) Flight into unexpected icing, crashed in Roselawn Indiana

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Eagle_Flight_4184

 

The thing to remember is that icing can happen anywhere there is a combination of freezing temperature and visible moisture. The high wing turboprop isn't more or less safe because of anti/de-ice equipment.

 

Note though that ATR operators in the US did get bigger de-icing boots although the Boscombe Downs tests showed that the bigger boots will not get rid of all the ice on the wings. ATR operators in the US just moved their aircraft to places where icing conditions were far less likely. The wikipedia article referenced above suggests that high wing turbo props aren't suffering ice induced crashes because of the 18 airworthiness directives issued in relation to the Roselawn crash, many were directed at revisions to the pilot training.

 

"Don't fly into known icing conditions" wasn't one of them. It was stuff like fly faster when you have ice, especially on final approach, no autopilot, different upset recovery procedures and...

 

Get through the ice, out the other side by the shortest, quickest route possible.

 

My favourite was "Don't fly circling through your own ice PIREP again and again, tell ATC to knock it off and land the plane instead. Any airport will do!"

 

All comments received with thanks. Also thanks again to CarlosMoochous and SixtiesRelic.