Air carrier large transport windshield and side windows iced over.

Attributes
ACN	101890
Time
Date	198901
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zau
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	101890
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Model a windshield anti-ice systems do not have a 'power on' light as installed on model B series. The second officer failed to push in the windshield anti-ice circuit breakers during his preflight SOP's and cockpit set-up. Windshield anti-ice switches were turned on 'low' by first officer per SOP and it was confirmed by me during pre-start checklist. Before descent from cruise altitude, the windshields (left and right) and side windows (left and right) iced up on the inside surface so that we had no visibility outside cockpit. First officer put windshield anti-ice switches on 'high' and I called for maximum cockpit heat but no help. I then told second officer to reset the circuit breakers and it was then that he admitted that he had failed to push them in prior to flight. He set the circuit breakers and windshields cleared up just in time for our approach and landing. Suggestion: that green 'power on' lights be installed next to windshield anti-ice switches on all older aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS ICED OVER.

Narrative: MODEL A WINDSHIELD ANTI-ICE SYSTEMS DO NOT HAVE A 'POWER ON' LIGHT AS INSTALLED ON MODEL B SERIES. THE S/O FAILED TO PUSH IN THE WINDSHIELD ANTI-ICE CIRCUIT BREAKERS DURING HIS PREFLT SOP'S AND COCKPIT SET-UP. WINDSHIELD ANTI-ICE SWITCHES WERE TURNED ON 'LOW' BY F/O PER SOP AND IT WAS CONFIRMED BY ME DURING PRE-START CHECKLIST. BEFORE DSCNT FROM CRUISE ALT, THE WINDSHIELDS (LEFT AND RIGHT) AND SIDE WINDOWS (LEFT AND RIGHT) ICED UP ON THE INSIDE SURFACE SO THAT WE HAD NO VISIBILITY OUTSIDE COCKPIT. F/O PUT WINDSHIELD ANTI-ICE SWITCHES ON 'HIGH' AND I CALLED FOR MAX COCKPIT HEAT BUT NO HELP. I THEN TOLD S/O TO RESET THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND IT WAS THEN THAT HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD FAILED TO PUSH THEM IN PRIOR TO FLT. HE SET THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND WINDSHIELDS CLRED UP JUST IN TIME FOR OUR APCH AND LNDG. SUGGESTION: THAT GREEN 'POWER ON' LIGHTS BE INSTALLED NEXT TO WINDSHIELD ANTI-ICE SWITCHES ON ALL OLDER ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.