An small aircraft pilot got into icing without proper protection.

Attributes
ACN	238127
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mbs
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mie
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 220 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	238127
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing mbs airport, we were cleared for a heading of 210 degrees and 6000 ft. There was a reported ceiling of 4000-5000 ft MSL, but no top of clouds were reported. After entering the clouds at 5000 ft, I heard 1 report from ATC of light rime ice and 1 pilot report of no ice at 6000 ft. After getting to 6000 ft and we did not break out on top, I requested 8000 ft. Upon reaching 7000 ft, engine RPM reduced by 500 RPM. Possibly due to ice on the propeller, because I could feel strange vibrations. When ATC asked for the condition of aircraft, power returned, but the plane refused to climb any higher than 7000 ft. So I requested a lower altitude to get out of the clouds. We got 5000 ft. We were still in the clouds. ATC gave us 4000 ft and we could see the ground again. After flying for 5 mins at 60 KIAS, suddenly the vibration stopped and IAS went back to 110 KTS. Ground speed showed about 130 KTS. We stayed at 4000 ft until we got back into the sunshine about 1 hour later. Then we requested 6000 ft and were cleared. ATC did not ask about condition of aircraft again and I did not volunteer. Violation would be failure to maintain a climb rate of 500 FPM to reach an assigned altitude and flying into known icing. I thought that I could break out on top, but the plane had other ideas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT GOT INTO ICING WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING MBS ARPT, WE WERE CLRED FOR A HDG OF 210 DEGS AND 6000 FT. THERE WAS A RPTED CEILING OF 4000-5000 FT MSL, BUT NO TOP OF CLOUDS WERE RPTED. AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS AT 5000 FT, I HEARD 1 RPT FROM ATC OF LIGHT RIME ICE AND 1 PLT RPT OF NO ICE AT 6000 FT. AFTER GETTING TO 6000 FT AND WE DID NOT BREAK OUT ON TOP, I REQUESTED 8000 FT. UPON REACHING 7000 FT, ENG RPM REDUCED BY 500 RPM. POSSIBLY DUE TO ICE ON THE PROP, BECAUSE I COULD FEEL STRANGE VIBRATIONS. WHEN ATC ASKED FOR THE CONDITION OF ACFT, PWR RETURNED, BUT THE PLANE REFUSED TO CLB ANY HIGHER THAN 7000 FT. SO I REQUESTED A LOWER ALT TO GET OUT OF THE CLOUDS. WE GOT 5000 FT. WE WERE STILL IN THE CLOUDS. ATC GAVE US 4000 FT AND WE COULD SEE THE GND AGAIN. AFTER FLYING FOR 5 MINS AT 60 KIAS, SUDDENLY THE VIBRATION STOPPED AND IAS WENT BACK TO 110 KTS. GND SPD SHOWED ABOUT 130 KTS. WE STAYED AT 4000 FT UNTIL WE GOT BACK INTO THE SUNSHINE ABOUT 1 HR LATER. THEN WE REQUESTED 6000 FT AND WERE CLRED. ATC DID NOT ASK ABOUT CONDITION OF ACFT AGAIN AND I DID NOT VOLUNTEER. VIOLATION WOULD BE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A CLB RATE OF 500 FPM TO REACH AN ASSIGNED ALT AND FLYING INTO KNOWN ICING. I THOUGHT THAT I COULD BREAK OUT ON TOP, BUT THE PLANE HAD OTHER IDEAS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.