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PA32 pilot encounters icing conditions at 10000 feet enroute to rap. The reporter is unable to clear icing conditions at 12000 feet and requests descent to lower altitude. During descent ice build up is rapid and controllability becomes an issue. Once below icing conditions reporter elects to land at available airport; and does so safely.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 855669 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200910 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Total 4000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
I landed at fsd; picked up fuel; updated the weather with FSS and departed to rap. Weather briefer did indicate that he was not painting any precipitation on his screen and no reported icing. I was 10K about 50 miles west of fsd and started picking up ice. I requested 12K and was cleared for it. During my climb I noticed I was picking up substantial ice and requested descent to 6K and then to 4K. I was pushing the yoke to its full forward position for rapid descent. As I was picking up severe ice; my rate of descent decreased and I had to apply additional force using my knee to hold the yoke down to avoid yoke pitching up. During this period I lost radio communication with ATC. ATC contacted me by relay and recommended that I land at ZZZ and was cleared for the visual. I finally managed to land there; riding solely on luck; without any incident. ATC had advised me to contact them over land line. They wanted altitude; temperature; and icing conditions during the process.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA32 pilot encounters icing conditions at 10000 feet enroute to RAP. The reporter is unable to clear icing conditions at 12000 feet and requests descent to lower altitude. During descent ice build up is rapid and controllability becomes an issue. Once below icing conditions reporter elects to land at available airport; and does so safely.
Narrative: I landed at FSD; picked up fuel; updated the weather with FSS and departed to RAP. Weather briefer did indicate that he was not painting any precipitation on his screen and no reported icing. I was 10K about 50 miles west of FSD and started picking up ice. I requested 12K and was cleared for it. During my climb I noticed I was picking up substantial ice and requested descent to 6K and then to 4K. I was pushing the yoke to its full forward position for rapid descent. As I was picking up severe ice; my rate of descent decreased and I had to apply additional force using my knee to hold the yoke down to avoid yoke pitching up. During this period I lost radio communication with ATC. ATC contacted me by relay and recommended that I land at ZZZ and was cleared for the visual. I finally managed to land there; riding solely on luck; without any incident. ATC had advised me to contact them over land line. They wanted altitude; temperature; and icing conditions during the process.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.