Every year structural icing claims a small but steady number of airplanes. Many of the accidents are on approach in clear air-after the airplane has already collected a load of ice. We look at it afterwards and wonder-the airplane had been doing fine-why did it crash well after it escaped from icing conditions?
Icing-related aircraft accidents, often occurring after exiting icing conditions during approach, are frequently caused by tail stalls, which require a critically opposite recovery technique (raise nose, raise flaps, reduce power) compared to wing stalls.
Aircraft tailplanes are highly susceptible to ice accumulation due to their smaller leading-edge radius, and flap extension during approach significantly increases the tail's angle of attack, leading to severe airflow separation and a dangerous, sudden nose-down pitch.
An impending tail stall is indicated by a "light" control wheel (easy to push forward, hard to pull back) and buffeting felt through the control wheel itself; recovery demands immediate flap retraction, power reduction, and forcefully pulling back on the yoke.
To prevent tail stalls when ice is present, pilots should prioritize avoiding flap deployment during approach and landing, maintain increased airspeed, and delay power reduction until the aircraft is on the ground.
Every year structural icing claims a small but steady number of airplanes. Many of the accidents are on approach in clear air—after the airplane has already collected a load of ice. We look at it afterwards and wonder—the airplane had been doing fine—why did it crash well after it escaped from icing conditions?
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