DISCOVERY OF A LARGE CHUNK OF ICE IN THE INDUCTION SYS LINE.

Date: 1993-03 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|other-unspecified

Synopsis

DISCOVERY OF A LARGE CHUNK OF ICE IN THE INDUCTION SYS LINE.

Narrative

BACKGND DATA -- 2 DAYS PRIOR TO FLT WINDS WERE GUSTING FROM SSE AT GREATER THAN 30 KTS. RAIN; SNOW FELL DURING STORM. ON PREFLT; ICE WAS DISCOVERED IN INDUCTION SYS LINE. IT OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE RESULTING IN A SUBSTANTIAL PWR LOSS. I REMOVED TUBE TO FIND A CHUNK OF ICE 6 1/4 INCHES LONG; 3 1/4 WIDE BY 1 - 1 1/14 DEEP (THICK). WE ARE THOROUGHLY REVIEWING INDUCTION SYS TO FIND CAUSE OF WATER ENTERING SYS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES ONLY REASON THIS AREA IS POSSIBLE TO INSPECT IS BECAUSE RPTR IS SMALL ENOUGH TO EXTEND HER HAND AND ARM INTO THE INDUCTION LINE. NOTHING IS REMOVABLE IN THE AREA TO INSPECT OTHERWISE. ONLY REASON RPTR DID THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE PWR LOSS ON ANOTHER FLT AFTER SUCH WX CONDITIONS. MAINT INSTALLED A NEW PIECE OF TUBING WHICH DID NOT HAVE A BEND WHICH THEY THOUGHT WOULD HELP. ALSO USED HVY FIBERGLASS AT BOTH CONNECTING POINTS TO SEAL AGAINST MOISTURE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN SUCH ADVERSE WX SINCE MAINT WAS DONE; SO NO CHANCE TO TEST THE NEW INSTALLATION. RPTR MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THESE ACFT ARE USED PRIMARILY FOR TRAINING AND SHE FEARS FOR WHAT A NEWLY SOLOED STUDENT MIGHT DO IF SUCH A PWR LOSS OCCURRED. RPTR HAS CONTACTED THE LCL FSDO AND SAYS SHE WILL WRITE TO MANUFACTURER AS WELL.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.