INFLT ENCOUNTER WITH ICING FORCES A PA34-200 PLT TO DECLARE AN EMER AND ASK FOR FLT ASSIST. DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE.
Synopsis
INFLT ENCOUNTER WITH ICING FORCES A PA34-200 PLT TO DECLARE AN EMER AND ASK FOR FLT ASSIST. DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE.
Narrative
CRUISING IN CLOUDS AT 6000 FT; STARTED TO SEE SLIGHT TRACES OF RIME ICE; TOLD CTLR IF ICE STARTED TO ACCUMULATE; I WOULD NEED TO DO A 180 DEG OR CLB; HE ACKNOWLEDGED AND SAID IF I NEED TO DO A 180 DEG; I NEEDED TO COORDINATE WITH HIM FIRST. ICE STARTED TO SLOWLY ACCUMULATE REQUIRING SOME ACTION; PIREP FROM A BARON 10 MI AWAY RPTED TOPS AT 9000 FT; SO I ELECTED TO CLB ON TOP; REQUESTED CLB TO 10000 FT; WHICH WAS APPROVED. DURING CLB; BTWN 7000 FT AND 8000 FT; ICE BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE RAPIDLY; AND BY 8000 FT I COULD NO LONGER GAIN ALT. I DECLARED AN EMER; AND DSNDED. CTLR SAID I COULD GO AS LOW AS 2200 FT; BUT IF I COULD HOLD 3000 FT I SHOULD FOR BETTER RADAR COVERAGE. I DSNDED TO 2200 FT TO GET BELOW THE CLOUD DECK; WHICH WAS AT ABOUT 2300-2400 FT; TO ENSURE THAT I DID NOT ACCUMULATE ANY MORE ICE. WHEN I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS; THE CTLS ON THE PLANE WERE 'MUSHY;' INDICATING TO ME THAT THE PLANE WAS NEAR STALL EVEN AT FULL PWR. ICE ACCUMULATION WAS ABOUT 2-3 INCHES. WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE CTLR; AND A HAND-HELD GPS; I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE NEAREST ASPHALT STRIP; PHILIPPY-BARBOUR (79D); AND LAND SAFELY. TO AVOID STALLING; I LANDED WITH FULL PWR AND NO FLAPS. I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE CTLR ON THE GND AND RPT THAT I LANDED SAFELY.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.