Narrative:

We reported for our first flight of the day. The preflight was performed by the first officer. The aircraft had already been sprayed with type 1; 50-50 mix; before we reported. The first officer informed me that there was ice on the wings; the temperature was 6 degrees C. We boarded the flight; and I explained to the ramp crew that we were de-iced too early because the 50-50 mix had separated and re-frozen. We boarded the flight and de-iced again. This same event occurred the previous morning with one dangerous exception. When the first officer did his preflight; there was no ice found during his tactile inspection; however; I asked the ramp when they had de-iced; I was told it had been done 1 hour and 20 min prior to our scheduled departure. I went out and checked the aircraft and discovered the type 1 50-50 mix had separated and frozen on the outer 25 percent of the wings. There was approximately 1/8 inch of clear ice and slush mixed with the type 1; the temperature was 6 degrees C. This occurred approximately 40 min after the first officer had done his preflight. The stations need to realize that they could very well be doing more harm than good by de-icing too early. If I hadn't double-check the wings; I hate to think of the possible consequences. This needs addressed as soon as possible!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ CAPT RPTS IMPROPER DE-ICE PROCS THAT LEFT HIS ACFT WITH ICE CONTAMINATION AFTER IT WAS RPTED CONTAMINANT FREE.

Narrative: WE RPTED FOR OUR FIRST FLT OF THE DAY. THE PREFLT WAS PERFORMED BY THE FO. THE ACFT HAD ALREADY BEEN SPRAYED WITH TYPE 1; 50-50 MIX; BEFORE WE RPTED. THE FO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS ICE ON THE WINGS; THE TEMP WAS 6 DEGS C. WE BOARDED THE FLT; AND I EXPLAINED TO THE RAMP CREW THAT WE WERE DE-ICED TOO EARLY BECAUSE THE 50-50 MIX HAD SEPARATED AND RE-FROZEN. WE BOARDED THE FLT AND DE-ICED AGAIN. THIS SAME EVENT OCCURRED THE PREVIOUS MORNING WITH ONE DANGEROUS EXCEPTION. WHEN THE FO DID HIS PREFLT; THERE WAS NO ICE FOUND DURING HIS TACTILE INSPECTION; HOWEVER; I ASKED THE RAMP WHEN THEY HAD DE-ICED; I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN DONE 1 HR AND 20 MIN PRIOR TO OUR SCHEDULED DEP. I WENT OUT AND CHECKED THE ACFT AND DISCOVERED THE TYPE 1 50-50 MIX HAD SEPARATED AND FROZEN ON THE OUTER 25 PERCENT OF THE WINGS. THERE WAS APPROX 1/8 INCH OF CLR ICE AND SLUSH MIXED WITH THE TYPE 1; THE TEMP WAS 6 DEGS C. THIS OCCURRED APPROX 40 MIN AFTER THE FO HAD DONE HIS PREFLT. THE STATIONS NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEY COULD VERY WELL BE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD BY DE-ICING TOO EARLY. IF I HADN'T DOUBLE-CHECK THE WINGS; I HATE TO THINK OF THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED ASAP!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.