Ntsb Safety Alert National Transportation Safety Board

By National Transportation Safety Board

Book Id: WPLBN0000702884
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 85,911 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2006

Title:	Ntsb Safety Alert National Transportation Safety Board
Author:	National Transportation Safety Board
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Transportation and society, National Transportation Safety Board (U.S.)
Collections:	National Transportation Safety Board Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	National Transportation Safety Board


Citation APA MLA Chicago Safety Board, N. T. (n.d.). Ntsb Safety Alert National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.us/

Description
Government Reference Publication

Excerpt
Excerpt: The problem - Fine particles of frost or ice, the size of a grain of table salt and distributed as sparsely as one per square centimeter over an airplane wing's upper surface, can destroy enough lift to prevent a plane from taking off. // Almost visually imperceptible amounts of ice on an airplane's wing upper surface during takeoff can result in significant performance degradation. // Small, almost visually imperceptible amounts of ice distributed on an airplane?s wing upper surface cause the same aerodynamic penalties as much larger (and more visible) ice accumulations. // Small patches of ice or frost can result in localized, asymmetrical stalls on the wing, which can result in roll control problems during lift off. // It is nearly impossible to determine by observation whether a wing is wet or has a thin film of ice. A very thin film of ice or frost will degrade the aerodynamic performance of any airplane. // Ice accumulation on the wing upper surface may be very difficult to detect from the cockpit, cabin, or front and back of the wing because it is clear/white. // Accident history shows that nonslatted, turbojet, transport-category airplanes have been involved in a disproportionate number of takeoff accidents where undetected upper wing ice contamination has been cited as the probable cause or sole contributing factor. // Most pilots understand that visible ice contamination on a wing can cause severe aerodynamic and control penalties, but it is apparent that many pilots do not recognize that minute amounts of ice adhering to a wing can result in similar penalties. // Despite evidence to the contrary, these beliefs may still exist because many pilots have seen their aircraft operate with large amounts of ice adhering to the leading edges (including the dramatic double horn accretion) and consider a thin layer of ice or frost on the wing upper surface to be more benign.