EMB145 captain reports wing anti-ice failure upon entering clouds at FL190. A request to climb to FL...

Narrative:

We were given clearance to FL190. We were also given clearance to deviate in whichever direction we needed to maneuver around multiple thunderstorms. The first officer and I agreed an the best path around the weather and set the course. As we approached an area of rapidly rising clouds; approximately FL200; the first officer requested a climb to FL210. Center said that they were unable FL210...fl 190 would be our final altitude. Immediately upon entering the clouds we encountered moderate icing and moderate turbulence. The aircraft ice system activated...all but the wing anti-ice. With the red 'anti-ice fail' and amber 'wing anti-ice' fail on the EICAS; I asked the first officer to request FL210 due to anti-ice failure. ATC rejected our request for higher and said lower was available. I began the climb to FL210. Exercising our emergency authority. The first officer informed them that we could not descend because of the weather below and we were initiating a climb to get out of the cloud layer and icing. He also informed them that FL210 would put us safely in the clear. At that time we were cleared to FL210. At FL200 we were on top and proceeded to run the checklists for the wing anti-ice failure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB145 Captain reports wing anti-ice failure upon entering clouds at FL190. A request to climb to FL210 is denied by ATC. The Captain starts climbing and informs ATC of his actions.

Narrative: We were given clearance to FL190. We were also given clearance to deviate in whichever direction we needed to maneuver around multiple thunderstorms. The First Officer and I agreed an the best path around the weather and set the course. As we approached an area of rapidly rising clouds; approximately FL200; the First Officer requested a climb to FL210. Center said that they were unable FL210...FL 190 would be our final altitude. Immediately upon entering the clouds we encountered moderate icing and moderate turbulence. The aircraft ice system activated...all but the wing anti-ice. With the red 'anti-ice fail' and amber 'wing anti-ice' fail on the EICAS; I asked the First Officer to request FL210 due to anti-ice failure. ATC rejected our request for higher and said lower was available. I began the climb to FL210. Exercising our Emergency Authority. The First Officer informed them that we could not descend because of the weather below and we were initiating a climb to get out of the cloud layer and icing. He also informed them that FL210 would put us safely in the clear. At that time we were cleared to FL210. At FL200 we were on top and proceeded to run the checklists for the wing anti-ice failure.

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.

Attributes
ACN	902746
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Aerofoil Ice System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

EMB145 captain reports wing anti-ice failure upon entering clouds at FL190. A request to climb to FL210 is denied by ATC. The captain starts climbing and informs ATC of his actions.