17 MAY 2002 Icing. Factors affecting aeroplane performance.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk2 Introduction. Types of icing, atmospheric conditions where it can be encountered and piston engine induction icing. Types of icing, atmospheric conditions where it can be encountered and piston engine induction icing. Applicable to Single and Multi Engine Piston aeroplanes. Applicable to Single and Multi Engine Piston aeroplanes.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk3 Agenda. Basic causes. Basic causes. Super cooled water droplets. Super cooled water droplets. The effects of icing. The effects of icing. Clear or glazed ice. Clear or glazed ice. Rime ice. Rime ice. Rain ice. Rain ice. Pack snow. Pack snow. Hoar frost. Hoar frost. Factors affecting severity of icing. Factors affecting severity of icing. Freezing level. Freezing level. Piston engine induction icing. Piston engine induction icing.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk4 Terms. Cb Cumulonimbus. Cb Cumulonimbus. Cu Cumulus. Cu Cumulus. Ns Nimbostratus. Ns Nimbostratus. Sc Stratocumulus. Sc Stratocumulus. St Stratus. St Stratus. Virga Rain that falls from the base of cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. Virga Rain that falls from the base of cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. AIC Aeronautical Information Circulars. AIC Aeronautical Information Circulars. LASORS Licensing, Administration, Standardisation, Operating Requirements and Safety. LASORS Licensing, Administration, Standardisation, Operating Requirements and Safety. AIS Aeronautical Information Service. AIS Aeronautical Information Service.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk5 Introduction to icing and it’s basic causes. Air frame icing can cause a serious loss of aircraft performance resulting in an increase in fuel consumption and difficulty with aircraft control. Ice will form on an airframe if there is: Air frame icing can cause a serious loss of aircraft performance resulting in an increase in fuel consumption and difficulty with aircraft control. Ice will form on an airframe if there is: Water in a liquid state; Water in a liquid state; Ambient air below 0°C(but see later); Ambient air below 0°C(but see later); Airframe temperature below 0°C. Airframe temperature below 0°C.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk6 Super cooled water droplets. A super cooled water droplet is a droplet of water still in the liquid state although it’s temperature is below 0°C; A super cooled water droplet is a droplet of water still in the liquid state although it’s temperature is below 0°C; If the super cooled water droplet contains a freezing nucleus then the droplet will start to freeze, as the numbers of freezing nuclei are small in the atmosphere super cooling is a frequent occurrence; If the super cooled water droplet contains a freezing nucleus then the droplet will start to freeze, as the numbers of freezing nuclei are small in the atmosphere super cooling is a frequent occurrence; Super cooled water droplets can exist in clouds at temperatures as low as –40°C. Super cooled water droplets can exist in clouds at temperatures as low as –40°C.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk7 The effects of icing. AERODYNAMIC. Icing tends to form on the leading edges. This spoils the aerofoil resulting in reduced lift, increased drag, increased weight, increased stalling speed and increased fuel consumption. AERODYNAMIC. Icing tends to form on the leading edges. This spoils the aerofoil resulting in reduced lift, increased drag, increased weight, increased stalling speed and increased fuel consumption. WEIGHT. Ice can form at the rate of one inch in two minutes affecting mass and balance. Ice can break away from propellers causing engine vibration. WEIGHT. Ice can form at the rate of one inch in two minutes affecting mass and balance. Ice can break away from propellers causing engine vibration.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk8 The effects of icing. INSTRUMENTS. Blocked pitot and static heads affect the ASI, VSI and Altimeter. INSTRUMENTS. Blocked pitot and static heads affect the ASI, VSI and Altimeter. GENERAL. Windscreens can be obscured. A thin film of ice/frost increases skin friction. Ice on aerials causes static interference. GENERAL. Windscreens can be obscured. A thin film of ice/frost increases skin friction. Ice on aerials causes static interference.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk9 The effects of icing.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk10 Clear (Glaze) ice. Large super cooled water droplets in contact with the airframe start to freeze releasing latent heat. This delays the process resulting in the flow back of clear ice. As well as changing the aerofoil section this ice can jam controls; Large super cooled water droplets in contact with the airframe start to freeze releasing latent heat. This delays the process resulting in the flow back of clear ice. As well as changing the aerofoil section this ice can jam controls; Clear ice forms in Ns, Cu and Cb at temperatures from 0 to -20°C. Clear ice forms in Ns, Cu and Cb at temperatures from 0 to -20°C.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk11 Rime ice Small super cooled water droplets freeze on impact with the airframe sticking to form a white opaque deposit with a light texture; Small super cooled water droplets freeze on impact with the airframe sticking to form a white opaque deposit with a light texture; Air intakes can be blocked; Air intakes can be blocked; Rime ice forms in Ns, As, Ac, St and the parts of heaped clouds where super cooled water droplets are small (0 to - 40°C). Rime ice forms in Ns, As, Ac, St and the parts of heaped clouds where super cooled water droplets are small (0 to - 40°C).

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk12 Rain ice. This is the most dangerous form of icing. It occurs in rain which becomes super cooled by falling from an inversion into air below 0°C; This is the most dangerous form of icing. It occurs in rain which becomes super cooled by falling from an inversion into air below 0°C; Rain ice builds up very quickly and a pilot’s action should be to turn onto a reciprocal heading immediately; Rain ice builds up very quickly and a pilot’s action should be to turn onto a reciprocal heading immediately; Rain ice occurs ahead of a warm or occluded front at low level during moderate to continuous rain at about feet; Rain ice occurs ahead of a warm or occluded front at low level during moderate to continuous rain at about feet; It is rare in the UK, but common in Central Europe and North America. It is rare in the UK, but common in Central Europe and North America.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk13 Formation of Super cooled water droplet

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk14 Pack snow. This is a combination of super cooled water droplets and snow. It can block air intakes and other aircraft openings. This is a combination of super cooled water droplets and snow. It can block air intakes and other aircraft openings.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk15 Hoar frost. Hoar frost is a white crystal deposit which appears similar to frost on the ground; Hoar frost is a white crystal deposit which appears similar to frost on the ground; It forms when the airframe temperature is below 0°C and when clear ambient air temperatures drop to saturation level; It forms when the airframe temperature is below 0°C and when clear ambient air temperatures drop to saturation level; Water vapour in contact with the airframe is converted to ice crystals without becoming liquid i.e. sublimating; Water vapour in contact with the airframe is converted to ice crystals without becoming liquid i.e. sublimating; It must be cleared before take-off. It must be cleared before take-off.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk16 Windscreen icing.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk17 Super cooled water droplets.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk18 Iced Wing.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk19 Severity of icing. The size of the super cooled water droplet is dependant on the cloud type and temperature; The size of the super cooled water droplet is dependant on the cloud type and temperature; There is always a greater concentration of droplets at the base of the cloud where it is warmest. Icing severity tends to be: Severe in Cu and Cb, moderate to severe in Ns and light to moderate in Sc; There is always a greater concentration of droplets at the base of the cloud where it is warmest. Icing severity tends to be: Severe in Cu and Cb, moderate to severe in Ns and light to moderate in Sc; The orographic effect of a range of hills increases uplift in cloud producing a greater concentration and size of super cooled water droplet. The orographic effect of a range of hills increases uplift in cloud producing a greater concentration and size of super cooled water droplet.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk20 Freezing Level. The height where the ambient temperature is zero is called the freezing level; The height where the ambient temperature is zero is called the freezing level; Given in area forecasts as the Zero degree isotherm; Given in area forecasts as the Zero degree isotherm; With an inversion two freezing levels are possible; With an inversion two freezing levels are possible; In the south of the UK the average freezing level in February is feet. In the south of the UK the average freezing level in February is feet.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk21 Piston Engine Induction Icing. Impact icing. Intake areas can be blocked by snow, pack snow or super cooled water droplets; Impact icing. Intake areas can be blocked by snow, pack snow or super cooled water droplets; Fuel icing. Water in fuel freezing in the bends of induction piping; Fuel icing. Water in fuel freezing in the bends of induction piping; Carburettor icing. This is caused by the sudden temperature drop as latent heat is absorbed when fuel evaporates and the temperature drop due to the adiabatic expansion of the air as it passes through the venturi. Carburettor icing. This is caused by the sudden temperature drop as latent heat is absorbed when fuel evaporates and the temperature drop due to the adiabatic expansion of the air as it passes through the venturi.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk22 Piston Engine Induction Icing.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk23 Carburettor Icing Notes: More common with Mogas; More common with Mogas; Greater problem with low power settings; Greater problem with low power settings; Occurs in clear air; Occurs in clear air; More of a hazard on warm, humid summer days; More of a hazard on warm, humid summer days; High humidity indicators are: Wet ground, dew with light winds, poor visibility near water in mornings and evenings, flying below or between cloud layers, precipitation, fog, cloud and clear air just after fog has dispersed. High humidity indicators are: Wet ground, dew with light winds, poor visibility near water in mornings and evenings, flying below or between cloud layers, precipitation, fog, cloud and clear air just after fog has dispersed.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk24 Carburettor Icing Conditions.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk25 Summary. Icing can be hazardous to aviation. Icing can be hazardous to aviation. Clear ice is a major hazard to flight safety. Clear ice is a major hazard to flight safety. Rime ice is the most common form of icing. Rime ice is the most common form of icing. Frost remaining on the wings is dangerous, especially during take-off. Frost remaining on the wings is dangerous, especially during take-off. When the air is moist carburettor icing can form in temperatures as high as 25°C! When the air is moist carburettor icing can form in temperatures as high as 25°C! An ice laden aeroplane may be completely incapable of flight. An ice laden aeroplane may be completely incapable of flight.

17 MAY 2002www.gridline.co.uk26 Where to Get More Information. Web search engines for “Icing”; Web search engines for “Icing”; Trevor Thom Air Pilot’s Manual 2-Air Law and Meteorology; Trevor Thom Air Pilot’s Manual 2-Air Law and Meteorology; LASORS 2002; LASORS 2002; General aviation safety sense leaflets 3B Winter flying and 14 Piston Engine Icing; General aviation safety sense leaflets 3B Winter flying and 14 Piston Engine Icing; AICs 93(P8)/00, 98(P136)/97 and 145(P161)/97; AICs 93(P8)/00, 98(P136)/97 and 145(P161)/97;