Figure 5-11. Pitot Tube Icing

CHAPTER FIVE

AVIATION WEATHER

Figure 5-11 Pitot Tube Icing

During flight, it can be difficult to detect ice on areas such as the empennage that may be

impossible to see. Cues that signal the potential for icing include the following:

Ice on windshield wiper arms or projections such as engine drain tubes, pitot tubes, engine

inlet lips, or propeller spinners,

decreasing airspeed with constant power and altitude, and

ice detector annunciation.

Icing on rotary wing aircraft is related to those involving wings and propellers. Ice formation on

the helicopter main rotor system or antitorque rotor system may produce serious vibration, loss

of efficiency or control, and can significantly deteriorate the available RPM to a level where safe

landing cannot be assured. In fact, a 3/16-inch (4.8-mm) coating of ice is sufficient to prevent

some helicopters from maintaining flight in a hover.

507.

OTHER TYPES OF AIRCRAFT ICING

Induction icing in flights through clouds containing super-cooled water droplets, air intake duct

icing is similar to wing icing. However, the ducts may ice when skies are clear and temperatures

are above freezing. The reduced pressure that exists at the intake lowers the temperature to the

point that condensation and/or deposition take place, resulting in the formation of ice. The

degree of temperature decrease varies considerably with different types of engines. However, if

the free air temperature is 10C or less (especially near the freezing point) and the relative

humidity is high, the possibility of induction icing exists. Ingestion of ice shed ahead of the

compressor inlet may cause severe foreign object damage to the engine.

Compressor icing ice forming on compressor inlet screens and compressor inlet guide vanes

will restrict the flow of inlet air, eventually causing engine flameout. The reduction in airflow is

noticeable through a loss of thrust and a rapid rise in exhaust gas temperature. As the airflow

decreases, the fuel-air ratio increases, which in turn raises the temperature of the gases going to

the turbine. The fuel control attempts to correct any loss in engine RPM by adding more fuel,

which merely aggravates the condition. Ice build-up on inlet screens sufficient to cause turbine

failure can occur in less than one minute under severe conditions.

5-16

Weather Hazards of Turbulence, Icing, Ceilings, Visibility, and Ash Clouds