A DC9 FLT CREWTAKES OFF AFTER PERFORMING A CURSORY AIR FRAME CHK FROM THE COCKPIT AFTER RECEIVING A NWS WX RPT OF FREEZING RAIN AT DTW; MI.
Synopsis
A DC9 FLT CREWTAKES OFF AFTER PERFORMING A CURSORY AIR FRAME CHK FROM THE COCKPIT AFTER RECEIVING A NWS WX RPT OF FREEZING RAIN AT DTW; MI.
Narrative
WHILE WE WERE TAXIING FOR TKOF (#4 SEQUENCE); TWR RPTED NATIONAL WX SVC OBSERVATION OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN. #1 ACFT QUESTIONED THIS AND TWR RESPONDED HE DIDN'T SEE IT EITHER; BUT THAT THIS WAS THE CURRENT OBSERVATION. I CHKED; UNHEATED AREAS OF MY ACFT AND PAINTED SURFACES ON TXWY AND SAW NO EVIDENCE OF FREEZING RAIN. #1 ACFT; WENT OFF FREQ TO TALK TO DISPATCH AND ABOUT 4-5 MINS LATER REQUESTED AND RECEIVED TKOF CLRNC. #2 AND #3 GOT OUT OFF-LINE AND WENT TO DEICING AREA TO REQUEST AN INSPECTION. I OPENED MY SIDE WINDOW AND STUCK HEAD AND SHOULDERS OUT AND TOUCHED SEVERAL UNHEATED SURFACES TO ENSURE THAT PRECIP WAS LIQUID AND WAS STAYING THAT WAY. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS +1 DEG TO +2 DEGS C. I ASKED CLRNC FOR TKOF AND WAS CLRED ONTO RWY TO HOLD. WHILE I HELD; TWR PUT OUT RPT OF MODERATE FREEZING RAIN. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS STILL +1 DEG C OR MORE; AND VISIBILITY WAS 3-4 MI; SO IT DEFINITELY WAS MODERATE PRECIP AND WAS STILL STAYING LIQUID. TWR ASKED IF WE STILL WANTED TO TAKE OFF AND I SAID 'YES; I GOT TKOF CLRNC.' TKOF AND ACFT PERFORMANCE WERE PERFECTLY NORMAL. 1 1/2 DAYS LATER; I CHKED WITH OUR METEOROLOGY DEPT AND THEY SAID THEY'D BEEN HAVING THIS PROB DUE TO INEXPERIENCED OBSERVERS WORKING FOR NWS. FOR EXAMPLE; ON MORNING OF SAME DAY; NWS WAS RPTING MODERATE FREEZING RAIN WITH A VISIBILITY OF 4 MI AND OUTSIDE AIR TEMP OF 3 DEGS C. WE HAD REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN OVERWING INSPECTION PRIOR TO TAXI AND THERE WAS NO ICE PRESENT. THESE INACCURATE RPTS CAUSE MAJOR DELAYS AND UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. THE OBSERVERS NEED BETTER TRAINING.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.