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Pilot deadheading on B757 notices poor deicing job and snow accumulation during taxi out but fails to communicate his observations prior to takeoff. Takeoff is normal.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 931880 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201102 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Passenger |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 11000 Flight Crew Type 500 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
I was deadheading on this flight in seat with an excellent view of the right wing. It was snowing lightly as we taxied out. Captain had another deadheading pilot who was in the cabin do a wing inspection as we were approaching #1. The pilot appeared to comply with SOP; observing the wing from windows in front of the wing. From my vantage point; it was clear the deicing on the outboard portion on the right wing was poorly done and the type iv fluid had failed and snow had accumulated on the wing. Additionally; the aircraft had been deiced with the flaps up at the gate; and when they were put down large portions of the flaps were exposed to the snow with no fluid on them and snow began to accumulate on them as soon as the flaps were lowered. This snow accumulation was blocked to the observer who was using the SOP viewing point. I had no way of knowing what the observer relayed to the cockpit until we took the runway and took off with a partially contaminated wing and flaps. There was no way to relay to the crew in a timely manner what I had observed. Fortunately takeoff appeared to be normal and no ill effects from the contaminated wing/flaps were noted from the cabin. I was able to relay to the observer what I noticed. I was not able to contact the flight crew to let them know.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Pilot deadheading on B757 notices poor deicing job and snow accumulation during taxi out but fails to communicate his observations prior to takeoff. Takeoff is normal.
Narrative: I was deadheading on this flight in seat with an excellent view of the right wing. It was snowing lightly as we taxied out. Captain had another deadheading pilot who was in the cabin do a wing inspection as we were approaching #1. The pilot appeared to comply with SOP; observing the wing from windows in front of the wing. From my vantage point; it was clear the deicing on the outboard portion on the right wing was poorly done and the type IV fluid had failed and snow had accumulated on the wing. Additionally; the aircraft had been deiced with the flaps up at the gate; and when they were put down large portions of the flaps were exposed to the snow with no fluid on them and snow began to accumulate on them as soon as the flaps were lowered. This snow accumulation was blocked to the observer who was using the SOP viewing point. I had no way of knowing what the observer relayed to the cockpit until we took the runway and took off with a partially contaminated wing and flaps. There was no way to relay to the crew in a timely manner what I had observed. Fortunately takeoff appeared to be normal and no ill effects from the contaminated wing/flaps were noted from the cabin. I was able to relay to the observer what I noticed. I was not able to contact the flight crew to let them know.
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.