....and a small, general aviation Aeroplane, with an air-cooled, normally aspirated, piston engine, suddenly suffering Carburettor Icing whilst airborne, in a cold, moisture-laden atmosphere.......

Ice cold in Utah!

You would not believe the number of times that I apply Carburettor Heat, and Pitot Tube Heat, when sim flying my little Cessna 150 Aerobat in unfavourable atmospheric conditions!

Always good practice for when the real thing comes along!

All survived with a few bruises....and a very bent aeroplane!

Paul.... ...!

Actually my worst nightmare is being trapped in an aircraft out of control waiting for the ground to come up and hit.  I get chills even thinking about the videos of aircraft that have lost large portions of wings or other surfaces and just plummeting to earth.

I've got a funny feeling, that if the Pilot was aware of the outside weather conditions, noticing all the snow down below, and the OAT temperature gauge on his wing, etc, indicating a very low temperature, assuming the presence of moisture in the air, and forgetting to apply regular Carburettor (and Pitot) Heat, he will have some explaining to do with his Insurance Company?

I have personal experience of the effects of frozen Carburettors (with no facility to heat them) on my Vintage motor cars and motorcycles in the past, in inclement weather!: Stalled engines and rough-running engines!

"Frozen Carburettors" can be very bad for your health.....Trust me!... ...!

Paul...wearing a pair of nice warm under-pants... ...!

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/students/presolo/skills/carbicing.html

...I always make a point of applying Carburettor Heat prior to closing the throttle, during landing. A time when the pressure drop through the Carburettor venturi is at its maximum, (rapid air flow through a very small gap), resulting in a very low temperature on the Carburettor body, resulting in a build-up of ice in the venturi, with moisture in the air, therefore restricting the air/mixture flow, and suffering a strangled engine!

Cancel Carburettor Heat just before landing, in case a "full power, aborted landing, go-around" is necessary!
Applying Carburettor Heat reduces engine power..(hot air)...

(Lots of things to remember at the last moment!).

Paul...Ice-cream is OK... ... ...!

C wrote on Feb 15^th, 2013 at 2:42pm:


I look at many of the fancy screen-shots posted here, involving small, piston prop, normally aspirated engines, operating in unfavourable atmospheric conditions, and I am of the same opinion!... ... ...!

I avoid cold, damp clouds, like the Plague!

Paul...me and my engine hate getting wet and cold!... ...!

A perfect illustration of why you DON'T CARRY A BABY IN ARMS ON A PLANE. The mother held on OK that time, but luck was on the kid's side, for sure.

beaky wrote on Feb 21^st, 2013 at 7:01pm:


This brings up a good Question! How do you stowe an infant on a small aircraft? I know what to do in a car, but in small aircraft not so much.

How to Strap your Baby in  an Airplane ???

I always just use Bunji' Cords and Motorcycle Straps !     

Its either that or Rope & Duck Tape -