Icing in Your Aircraft’s Engine

Its that time of year again in the Northern Hemisphere, when in-flight icing can be a threat. Depending on where you are and where youre going, icing may be a rare possibility during the upcoming season. It also can be a sure thing. Evaluating the possibility of in-flight icing is part of the equation-its potential impact is another. A pilot might completely overlook icings impact on other aircraft systems, including the powerplant(s). Carburetor icing should be a topic familiar to most pilots, but induction system icing can be an afterthought. And while there are systems we can activate to minimize icings impact on the induction system, we must remember they exist and know how to activate them.

Key Takeaways:

• In-flight icing poses a critical threat beyond structural accretion, significantly impacting vital aircraft systems, notably engine induction.
• Pilots must conduct thorough pre-flight weather briefings, understand their aircraft's icing certification and limitations, and avoid flight into known icing conditions when unprepared.
• The Beech B36TC Bonanza accident highlights the fatal consequences of continued flight into known icing conditions without adequate pre-flight planning and proper utilization of onboard systems, such as alternate air, to counter induction icing.

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