Ice, Ice, Baby

[aloft]

The result of about 18 minutes in IMC today:

[ASpilot2be]

Pictures arent showing up on my end.

[flyinkibblez]

uh.....you sure that was ice on your 172??? how do the boots work on that baby?

[aloft]

They showing up now?

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by aloft

They showing up now?

Yep Cool pictures.

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

cool!!!!!

but dangerous

[coa787]

Interesting how the ice also formed on the black part of the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizers. Isn't heat supposed to run through that and prevent ice build up?

Nice pictures, by the way.

[Firebird2XC]

Unforecast icing has probably eaten a few pilots over the years. Careful with that stuff, man! Neat pictures either way.

As for icing- if there's IMC, there's precip. If you know by standard lapse rate and surface temp that you'll be above the freezing level, that's icing conditions. That "flight into known icing conditions" line might not just be all about PIREPS.

Lots of pilots have discovered freezing temps at other than planned altitudes and had to deal with ice when not equipped.

If you think you might, don't. An Examiner I used to speak with often (he also ran my flying club) told me once that your OAT gauge might well be the only instrument that'll keep you safe when you go IMC. If you're not sure about the temp outside, look up from the six pack and check the OAT. If you see less than O Celsius, get out of the scud.

These photos are cool, sure, but you up-and-comers out there- don't play with ice.. given a chance it WILL kill you.

[DonR]

why didn't the de-icing boots work on the Horiz stab?

[LoadMasterC141]

I am betting they are just rubber leading edge covers. A 172 at a local school here has a set on its elevators. It does a good job of hiding the poor epoxy fill in the ding made by some student swiping a runway light.

[Screaming_Emu]

I don't know that I would be going around posting pictures of ice on an aircraft not certified for flight into ice and saying I was in IMC for 18 mins...but that's just me. Especially not with a visible tail number.

[aloft]

Meh. Airplanes not certified for flight in known icing conditions have inadvertent encounters with ice all the time. The greater takeaway is that I didn't linger in those conditions, I encountered them in the course of an approach to landing, and took steps to exit them expediently.

FWIW, I posted pics of the struts and tail primarily because they were the most interesting looking; what little ice had accumulated on the wings wasn't nearly as interesting, nor did it have any affect on the aircraft's performance.

[Micaoct]

Sounds/looks to me like he inadvertently entered icing conditions. 18 minutes of it sounds like he was getting OUT of it, not flying through it on purpose.

Cool pictures by the way, scary stuff. Thanks for sharing, good learning opportunity. I've gotten stuck in random places due to icing/frost. I do not take chances with it at all, just too dangerous. Good job getting out of it.

[Screaming_Emu]

Originally Posted by aloft

Meh. Airplanes not certified for flight in known icing conditions have inadvertent encounters with ice all the time. The greater takeaway is that I didn't linger in those conditions, I encountered them in the course of an approach to landing, and took steps to exit them expediently.

FWIW, I posted pics of the struts and tail primarily because they were the most interesting looking; what little ice had accumulated on the wings wasn't nearly as interesting, nor did it have any affect on the aircraft's performance.

Right, I guess my point was that even if you were doing everything right, you never know who could be out there and feel like making an issue of it. Even if you weren't doing anything wrong, I'm sure getting that point across to the FAA is less than fun. Just my opinion.

[surreal1221]

Trust me. . .some people around here, will contact the FAA.

I think what everyone has said though is just to be careful. That's it.

And don't bite your fingernails! Eww!

[will_fly_for_bandwith]

Agree with LoadMasterC141.

I dont think that those black things on the stab are anti / de ice equipment. Probably a protective tape to protect the stab from FOD (stone chips e.t.c) kicked up by the prop.

I wonder how much time elasped between leaving the ice and taking pictures... appears like that ice was not going anywhere.

[aloft]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Trust me. . .some people around here, will contact the FAA.

Yeah, not terribly worried.

Originally Posted by surreal1221

And don't bite your fingernails! Eww!

That's the thumb I usually have lodged up my butt, gotta keep it free of any sharp edges!

will_fly: that was about 7-10 minutes after leaving IMC, right after I shut down. It all came off pretty quickly. The stuff on the windshield melted and flung off less than a minute after breaking out of the overcast.

[E6BAV8R]

I dont think that those black things on the stab are anti / de ice equipment. Probably a protective tape to protect the stab from FOD (stone chips e.t.c) kicked up by the prop.

Correct. They are called 'bush guards' to prevent damage to the leading edge of the horiz. stab.

[moxiepilot]

i love horns.

[skidz]

Are there any "unknown" icing conditions?

[minitour]

Originally Posted by aloft

...nor did it have any affect on the aircraft's performance.

Yes it did.

Be careful out there!

-mini

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by minitour

Yes it did.

Be careful out there!

-mini

Perfectly said.

[Polar742]

Originally Posted by minitour

Yes it did.

Be careful out there!

-mini

Fly Safe ya'll