 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Small aircraft's climb performance reduced by unexpected icing condition cruises below MEA in mountainous terrain.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 127986 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198911 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : rlg |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 14200 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : v8 |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 150 |
| ASRS Report | 127986 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : undershoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
Late afternoon departure from sbs bnd btc. Broken ceiling approximately 12000'. Decided to go and climbed to 11500'. Got as far as kremmling VOR (10 northwest/330 degree right). We were going to need a clearance to get through the deck, so I called ZDV and requested clearance to join V8 en route climb to 15300', which should have been no problem. Center replied, 'cleared V220 with MEA 17000.' I denied the clearance due to altitude, and again requested V8. We continued and initiated a climb still in VFR in anticipation of our clearance, which we finally received. I figured climb to be no problem, and prospect of icing slight due to temperatures (15 degrees C), and the deck seemed to be thin due to a bright moon on top. My expectation was to be VFR on top soon. Moments later, while in IMC, I was told to maintain visibility terrain clearance. I replied, 'unable.' as we climbed our rate deteriorated, finally level. At 14200' I called unable to climb above 14200, 'please advise.' no response. Airspeed vy still unable climb. I looked at charts and established our position above the highest terrain, and decided we were better off proceeding straight ahead rather than risk a turn toward higher terrain to the sides. Center called again to express concern. A moment later we flew out VFR with high terrain behind us and indicated to center. Upon landing I was directed to call ZDV. On descent we shook some ice off propellers. Must have been reason for poor climb. I should not have asked for the clearance as I did. Should have done a climbing hold in safe airspace. Center should have required the above and not authority/authorized my request. I should have realized the situation much quicker.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE REDUCED BY UNEXPECTED ICING CONDITION CRUISES BELOW MEA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Narrative: LATE AFTERNOON DEP FROM SBS BND BTC. BROKEN CEILING APPROX 12000'. DECIDED TO GO AND CLBED TO 11500'. GOT AS FAR AS KREMMLING VOR (10 NW/330 DEG R). WE WERE GOING TO NEED A CLRNC TO GET THROUGH THE DECK, SO I CALLED ZDV AND REQUESTED CLRNC TO JOIN V8 ENRTE CLB TO 15300', WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROB. CENTER REPLIED, 'CLRED V220 WITH MEA 17000.' I DENIED THE CLRNC DUE TO ALT, AND AGAIN REQUESTED V8. WE CONTINUED AND INITIATED A CLB STILL IN VFR IN ANTICIPATION OF OUR CLRNC, WHICH WE FINALLY RECEIVED. I FIGURED CLB TO BE NO PROB, AND PROSPECT OF ICING SLIGHT DUE TO TEMPS (15 DEGS C), AND THE DECK SEEMED TO BE THIN DUE TO A BRIGHT MOON ON TOP. MY EXPECTATION WAS TO BE VFR ON TOP SOON. MOMENTS LATER, WHILE IN IMC, I WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN VIS TERRAIN CLRNC. I REPLIED, 'UNABLE.' AS WE CLBED OUR RATE DETERIORATED, FINALLY LEVEL. AT 14200' I CALLED UNABLE TO CLB ABOVE 14200, 'PLEASE ADVISE.' NO RESPONSE. AIRSPD VY STILL UNABLE CLB. I LOOKED AT CHARTS AND ESTABLISHED OUR POS ABOVE THE HIGHEST TERRAIN, AND DECIDED WE WERE BETTER OFF PROCEEDING STRAIGHT AHEAD RATHER THAN RISK A TURN TOWARD HIGHER TERRAIN TO THE SIDES. CENTER CALLED AGAIN TO EXPRESS CONCERN. A MOMENT LATER WE FLEW OUT VFR WITH HIGH TERRAIN BEHIND US AND INDICATED TO CENTER. UPON LNDG I WAS DIRECTED TO CALL ZDV. ON DSCNT WE SHOOK SOME ICE OFF PROPS. MUST HAVE BEEN REASON FOR POOR CLB. I SHOULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR THE CLRNC AS I DID. SHOULD HAVE DONE A CLBING HOLD IN SAFE AIRSPACE. CENTER SHOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE ABOVE AND NOT AUTH MY REQUEST. I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THE SITUATION MUCH QUICKER.
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.