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To: MNDude

For aviation enthusiasts...
More than fifteen yers ago, flying a Piper Arrow IFR, entered some freezing rain and started to get ice on the airframe rather quickly. Got clearance to land at Trenton Mercer County airport about ten miles away. I found the pitot tube heater kept tripping the circuit breaker, then finally failed completely. The static instruments froze, no airspeed, no rate of climb....
I recalled with basic flight training and kept a constant power setting and the aircraft level, descended with known pitch and power settings, and added a little more power because I could see ice on the wings. After seemingly an eternity, I landed with about 1/2” ice visible on the airframe, didnt know how much had melted off already. Just sat in the plane for almost twenty minutes in front of the FBO, finally letting go of the yoke, thanking The Lord and my flight instructor and cursing myself for getting into that situation.


56 posted on 07/06/2013 7:45:44 PM PDT by jughandle
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To: jughandle

The Lord was with you that day, my FRiend. Icing and a faulty pitot heat is a deadly combination.


131 posted on 07/06/2013 8:29:27 PM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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