Pilot of corp twin engine aircraft encounters icing conditions while in cruise, is unable to make co...

Attributes
ACN	127912
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vie
State Reference	ON
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : czyz
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1550
ASRS Report	127912
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from mss to atw, I encountered moderate to severe icing in clouds and precipitation. This occurred near the coehill VOR in canada. I was at 8000' when toronto center advised me to contact muskoka FSS, and that my radar service was terminated. About 5 mins after I had contacted muskoka, I encountered the icing. 2 attempts to contact muskoka were unsuccessful, so I climbed up to 10000' MSL to try to avoid the icing as the icing was collecting rapidly. Once at 10000' the icing persisted, so I then decided to try to get below the icing. Another attempt to contact muskoka was made, as I descended to 4000' MSL. Shortly thereafter, muskoka contacted me and asked for my altitude. He then advised me that toronto center was monitoring my mode C and noticed the altitude changes. I explained to him what had happened, and he told center. They advised me that I was in violation for changing my altitude west/O a clearance. That is all they would tell me. The rest of the flight occurred west/O incident. It was my judgement that evasive action was needed to avoid the icing conditions. Attempts to contact muskoka were unsuccessful, so I did what I had to do. Radio communication may have been limited because I was on the fringe of muskoka's coverage. More antenna sites would alleviate this problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF CORP TWIN ENGINE ACFT ENCOUNTERS ICING CONDITIONS WHILE IN CRUISE, IS UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH PRIMARY FAC AND DEVIATES FROM ALT ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT CLRNC IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF ICING ALTS.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM MSS TO ATW, I ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE ICING IN CLOUDS AND PRECIP. THIS OCCURRED NEAR THE COEHILL VOR IN CANADA. I WAS AT 8000' WHEN TORONTO CENTER ADVISED ME TO CONTACT MUSKOKA FSS, AND THAT MY RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. ABOUT 5 MINS AFTER I HAD CONTACTED MUSKOKA, I ENCOUNTERED THE ICING. 2 ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT MUSKOKA WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, SO I CLBED UP TO 10000' MSL TO TRY TO AVOID THE ICING AS THE ICING WAS COLLECTING RAPIDLY. ONCE AT 10000' THE ICING PERSISTED, SO I THEN DECIDED TO TRY TO GET BELOW THE ICING. ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CONTACT MUSKOKA WAS MADE, AS I DSNDED TO 4000' MSL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MUSKOKA CONTACTED ME AND ASKED FOR MY ALT. HE THEN ADVISED ME THAT TORONTO CENTER WAS MONITORING MY MODE C AND NOTICED THE ALT CHANGES. I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND HE TOLD CENTER. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION FOR CHANGING MY ALT W/O A CLRNC. THAT IS ALL THEY WOULD TELL ME. THE REST OF THE FLT OCCURRED W/O INCIDENT. IT WAS MY JUDGEMENT THAT EVASIVE ACTION WAS NEEDED TO AVOID THE ICING CONDITIONS. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT MUSKOKA WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, SO I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO. RADIO COM MAY HAVE BEEN LIMITED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE FRINGE OF MUSKOKA'S COVERAGE. MORE ANTENNA SITES WOULD ALLEVIATE THIS PROB.

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.

Pilot of corp twin engine aircraft encounters icing conditions while in cruise, is unable to make contact with primary facility and deviates from altitude assignment without clearance in an attempt to get out of icing altitudes.