Incident Overview
Flight 3444 encountered severe turbulence and icing conditions while on approach to Runway 4R at Newark International Airport. The crew reported flying through a mixture of rime and clear ice.
Weather Conditions
An analysis of the weather revealed strong horizontal gusts and severe turbulence in the Newark area below 5,000 feet.
Icing Encounter
The captain stated that he observed approximately 3 inches of ice on top of the wing, behind the leading edge wing boot. The icing conditions consisted of a mixture of rime and clear ice.
Propeller Speed Deviation
Approved procedures for flight in icing conditions require the propeller speed to be maintained at 86 percent or higher to prevent uneven ice accumulation on the wing. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) information revealed that the crew had the propeller speed set at 77 percent, which is 9 percent below the required minimum.