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An MD83 in cruise at FL310 crew noticed aircraft slowing and throttles split with #2 engine not maintaining cruise power due to engine icing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 480681 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200007 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zmp.artcc |
| State Reference | MN |
| Altitude | msl single value : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Ice |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zmp.artcc tower : pit.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-83 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 400 |
| ASRS Report | 480681 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 320 |
| ASRS Report | 481083 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : #2 engine indications other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Weather |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
We had been in and out of clouds at FL310. We were using engine anti-ice when necessary. There was no evidence of any ice accumulation. The first officer left the cockpit to use the lavatory, then came back with my crew meal. After a few mins we noticed the aircraft had slowed to about 220 KTS and the throttles were split. The right engine was not developing cruise thrust. It was apparent we would not be able to accelerate so I told center we wanted to descend to FL280. The controller gave us a frequency change, but the first officer had already started down at my request. The next controller approved FL280. Shortly after the descent, I turned on the ignition and anti-ice. The right engine indications returned to normal. We stayed at FL280 for a little while, then returned to FL310. I am going to be more aggressive using anti-ice in the future.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD83 IN CRUISE AT FL310 CREW NOTICED ACFT SLOWING AND THROTTLES SPLIT WITH #2 ENG NOT MAINTAINING CRUISE PWR DUE TO ENG ICING.
Narrative: WE HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS AT FL310. WE WERE USING ENG ANTI-ICE WHEN NECESSARY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ICE ACCUMULATION. THE FO LEFT THE COCKPIT TO USE THE LAVATORY, THEN CAME BACK WITH MY CREW MEAL. AFTER A FEW MINS WE NOTICED THE ACFT HAD SLOWED TO ABOUT 220 KTS AND THE THROTTLES WERE SPLIT. THE R ENG WAS NOT DEVELOPING CRUISE THRUST. IT WAS APPARENT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE SO I TOLD CTR WE WANTED TO DSND TO FL280. THE CTLR GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE, BUT THE FO HAD ALREADY STARTED DOWN AT MY REQUEST. THE NEXT CTLR APPROVED FL280. SHORTLY AFTER THE DSCNT, I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND ANTI-ICE. THE R ENG INDICATIONS RETURNED TO NORMAL. WE STAYED AT FL280 FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN RETURNED TO FL310. I AM GOING TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE USING ANTI-ICE IN THE FUTURE.
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.