PLT OF A C425 TURBOPROP EXCEEDED THE MAX AIRSPD AT OR BELOW 2500 FT; WITHIN A 4 MI RADIUS OF AN ARPT; WHEN HE INCREASED THE ACFT AIRSPD TO COMPENSATE FOR LOSS OF INDICATED AIRSPD BECAUSE OF AN ICED OVER PITOT TUBE. THE PLT'S PITOT TUBE HEAT HAD FAILED.
Synopsis
PLT OF A C425 TURBOPROP EXCEEDED THE MAX AIRSPD AT OR BELOW 2500 FT; WITHIN A 4 MI RADIUS OF AN ARPT; WHEN HE INCREASED THE ACFT AIRSPD TO COMPENSATE FOR LOSS OF INDICATED AIRSPD BECAUSE OF AN ICED OVER PITOT TUBE. THE PLT'S PITOT TUBE HEAT HAD FAILED.
Narrative
ASSIGNED 170 KTS ON RADAR VECTORS TO ILS RWY 27L ORD. ORD WIND 290 DEGS; 25 KTS; GUSTING TO 35 KTS. LLWS ADVISORIES. LLWS RPTED BY SEVERAL ACFT. I WAS FOLLOWING A B757; DSNDING THROUGH OVCST LAYER WITH LIGHT ICING. AS I ENTERED THE OVCST ON THE GS; THE AIRSPD BEGAN TO DROP SLOWLY. INCREASED PWR TO RECOVER AIRSPD. AIRSPD STABILIZED; THEN DROPPED AGAIN 10 KTS. ASSUMING WAKE TURB OR WINDSHEAR; I INCREASED PWR TO RECOVER AGAIN. AIRSPD STABILIZED THEN DROPPED ANOTHER 10 KTS. NOW INDICATING 30 KTS SLOW; INCREASED PWR; CHKED CONFIGN AND ICE; NO ICE ON WINGS. CHKED COPLT IAS; NOW 220 KTS. PLT'S PITOT HEAT HAD FAILED AND ICE BLOCKED. RECOVERED AIRSPD TO ASSIGNED. LNDG UNEVENTFUL. THIS OCCURRED IN ONLY 2 OR 3 MINS. I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE AIRSPD DEVS DUE TO WAKE TURB OR WINDSHEAR. ASSUMED THAT WAS THE CASE; WHEN ACTUALLY PITOT HEAT FAILED AT VERY INCONVENIENT TIME; ON ILS; IN IMC; LIGHT ICING CONDITIONS. INCLUDING COPLT INSTS IN SCAN (WE FLY SINGLE PLT) OR USING A COPLT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THE DISCREPANCY SOONER.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.