1994-02 · NASA ASRS report 263157
RPTR IS ACCUSED OF FLYING AN ACFT HAVING ICE ON THE TAIL SURFACES IN VIOLATION OF FAR 135.227.
ON TUESDAY AFTER 4 DAYS OF HVY FOG WITH OUTSIDE AIR TEMPS 28-30 DEGS; I REMOVED A SUBSTANTIAL BUILD-UP OF FROST AND ICE FROM A CESSNA C208 USING PRESSURIZED HOT WATER FOLLOWED BY HAND SPRAYED HEATED GLYCOL. I THEN FLEW THE CARAVAN AROUND THE PATTERN; PARKED AND THEN PLACED WING AND TAIL COVERS ON THE ACFT. ON WEDNESDAY OUTSIDE AIR TEMP 30 DEG F. FOLLOWING AN ICE PELLET SHOWER; THE WING AND TAIL COVERS OF THE C208 WERE REMOVED (XH50 HRS). PRIOR TO PAX BOARDING; I CLBED ON TOP OF THE ACFT TO VISUALLY INSPECT ALL OF THE UPPER SURFACES OF THE C208 AND FOUND IT TO COMPLY WITH FAR 135.227. DURING ENG START; 2 FSDO INSPECTORS WALKED BEHIND THE ACFT AND CLAIMED TO HAVE BOTH REACHED UP TO THE L ELEVATOR (HEIGHT 6 FT; 9 INCH) FELT 'SIGNIFICANT' ROUGHNESS AND SAW ICICLES DANGLING FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE CTL SURFACE. ON RETURN TO THE JUNEAU ARPT 1 HR LATER; I WAS INFORMED BY 1 OF THE FAA INSPECTORS THAT I HAD DEPARTED JUNEAU IN VIOLATION OF FAR 135.227 AND THAT THIS INCIDENT WOULD BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. 2 ISSUES ARE OF CONCERN: FIRST; IF A SIT THAT MAY HAVE COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF MY FLT WAS OBSERVED PRIOR TO TAXI; UNKNOWN TO ME; THEN WHY DIDN'T THESE INSPECTORS MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO STOP THE FLT SO THAT THE CONDITION COULD BE FURTHER EXAMINED AND CORRECTED; IF REQUIRED? SECOND; TO ASSIST THE GA INDUSTRY MEET THE CHALLENGES OF DEICING ACFT; WHY DOESN'T THE FAA USE THEIR MANPOWER AND RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND FUND OPERATIONAL SAFETY SYS; LIKE ARPT DEICING FACILITIES; RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO SEEK COMPLIANCE THROUGH ADVERSARIAL PAPER CHASE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR HAS 300 HRS ON THE CARAVAN BUT HE HAS 4500 HRS AND 10 YRS EXPERIENCE FLYING THE BUSH IN ALASKA. HE FEELS THERE WAS AN INTERPERSONAL PROB BTWN HIMSELF AND THE ACI; THE ACI ACCUSING HIM OF BEING ARGUMENTATIVE. HE ALLEGES THE ACI WAS IN A BAD MOOD AND WAS LOOKING FOR TROUBLE BECAUSE THE FBO HAS A BAD REPUTATION. HE SAID THAT HE AND THE GND CREW THAT REMOVED THE WING/TAIL COVERS WERE SATISFIED THAT THE ACFT WAS FREE OF ICE AND AIRWORTHY. HE CLBED ON TOP OF THE FUSELAGE AT THE PAX ENTRY DOOR TO MAKE HIS INSPECTION.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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