Aircraft Icing
Mostly, at the subfreezing temperatures, all clouds have the potential of icing. However, drop distribution, aerodynamic effects of the aircraft, and decreased size influence the ice’s formation. The most favorable conditions of the hazardous icing are the existence of many and substantial supercooled water drops. In times when there are low-level clouds and fog, small droplets of water often form under such conditions. Little rains or drizzles are evidence of the presence of small clouds in such clouds. Rime is the most common type of icing that exists at a lower level of stratus clouds. Contrary, constant rains such as nimbostratus and altostratus have plenty of liquid water. (“Icing and Cloud Types,” 2020). During winter seasons, such a cloud system might cover up thousands of square miles, thus hindering flights. Therefore, the heaviest icing will be found slightly above or at the freezing level, where the temperature is not more than a few degrees below freezing.
Rime icing is the most common type of glaze on aircraft. The rime ice accumulates on antennas and the leading wing’s edges. Generally, ice collects on and hampers the functions of control not only surfaces, propellers, and wings but also static vents and pilot tubes, air intakes, and carburetors (Borrell, 2009). The vulnerability of the turbine engines is thus essential. Disruption of airflow around the tail and wings is more dangerous compared to the accumulated ice weight. The ice deviates the airflow around the plane and abolishes lift, upsurges drag, and increases the stalling speed. Thrust is degraded due to the ice on the propeller blades; hence the pilot uses a high angle of attack and full power to maintain the altitude.
In the year 2009, February, 3407 continental express flight crashed in Buffalo as a result of ice build upon the wings of the plane. The accident killed approximately 50 people. The pilot had already turned on de-icing immediately after takeoff, but there was significant ice build-up on the windshield and the wings. Severe icing conditions stalled the aircraft and interfered with the pilot’s ability to react and recover since he had turned auto-pilot. This incidence shows how dangerous icing can be on airplanes hence the need for pilots to understand the seriousness of its effects.
References
Borrell, B. (2009, February 17). How does the ice cause a plane to crash? Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ice-flight-3407/
Icing and Cloud Types. (n.d.). Www.Aviationweather.Ws. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.aviationweather.ws/053_Icing_and_Cloud_Types.php