Yup, Ice Is for Cocktails
Rick Durden’s December 2014 complex article about tailplane icing was well researched and well written. It also proved prophetic.
Readback: May 2015
Rick Durdens December 2014 complex article about tailplane icing was well researched and well written. It also proved prophetic.At Cincinnati Municipal while my L-39 was being fueled, Bill Rieke, an icing researcher, came over to chat. He said that he thought the L-39 would be particularly susceptible to tailplane icing and stall because of the smallness of tailplane, the thinness of the airfoil and the need for ventral VGs.
Key Takeaways:
- Even minimal ice can lead to severe tailplane stalls in susceptible aircraft like the L-39, emphasizing the critical danger of flying in any icing conditions and the value of aerobatic training for recovery.
- While legal interpretations for NORDO (no radio) procedures may suggest maintaining altitude until approach, pilots should prioritize safety in critical situations by exercising emergency authority (squawking 7700) and taking reasonable action, such as an earlier descent, even if it requires "explaining later."
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