Small aircraft encountered icing. Unable to comply with climb clearance.

Attributes
ACN	108493
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 6600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : rdu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 5100 flight time type : 3900
ASRS Report	108493
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While filing flight plan for subject flight the briefer advised of turbulence and icing at 6000'. Flight plan filed for en route altitude of 4000'. Initial clearance was to 3000' and then 4000', but shortly thereafter I was told to climb to and maintain 6000'. I acknowledged, but told the controller she was putting me into freezing conditions. A short time later while climbing to 6000' I was told to climb to and maintain 7000'. At about 6400' I entered precipitation which froze on the windshield, and at the same time turbulence, which had been a mild chop, became moderate requiring my constant attention to altitude and attitude of the aircraft. After a few seconds the controller asked me to 'say altitude.' still climbing, I replied '6600', but I want lower.' she asked the reason for the request. I replied, 'ice.' she told me to contact rdu approach and they would give me lower. I did and they reassigned 4000'. The rest of the flight was west/O incident. My intention was to climb to 7000', but adverse WX precluded the accomplishment. In my opinion light aircraft should not be assigned altitudes at or above reported icing conditions. I was happy that rdu approach readily reassigned 4000' when requested.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERED ICING. UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH CLIMB CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE FILING FLT PLAN FOR SUBJECT FLT THE BRIEFER ADVISED OF TURB AND ICING AT 6000'. FLT PLAN FILED FOR ENRTE ALT OF 4000'. INITIAL CLRNC WAS TO 3000' AND THEN 4000', BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER I WAS TOLD TO CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 6000'. I ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT TOLD THE CTLR SHE WAS PUTTING ME INTO FREEZING CONDITIONS. A SHORT TIME LATER WHILE CLBING TO 6000' I WAS TOLD TO CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 7000'. AT ABOUT 6400' I ENTERED PRECIPITATION WHICH FROZE ON THE WINDSHIELD, AND AT THE SAME TIME TURB, WHICH HAD BEEN A MILD CHOP, BECAME MODERATE REQUIRING MY CONSTANT ATTN TO ALT AND ATTITUDE OF THE ACFT. AFTER A FEW SECS THE CTLR ASKED ME TO 'SAY ALT.' STILL CLBING, I REPLIED '6600', BUT I WANT LOWER.' SHE ASKED THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST. I REPLIED, 'ICE.' SHE TOLD ME TO CONTACT RDU APCH AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME LOWER. I DID AND THEY REASSIGNED 4000'. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS W/O INCIDENT. MY INTENTION WAS TO CLB TO 7000', BUT ADVERSE WX PRECLUDED THE ACCOMPLISHMENT. IN MY OPINION LIGHT ACFT SHOULD NOT BE ASSIGNED ALTS AT OR ABOVE RPTED ICING CONDITIONS. I WAS HAPPY THAT RDU APCH READILY REASSIGNED 4000' WHEN REQUESTED.

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.