BiMonthly Safety Briefing November 15 2016 Prepared by Dave Kirk PRNFC Safety Officer Safety Topic 2 Winter Ground Ops amp Carb Icing Introduction Cold weather can and does adversely affect flight operations ID: 577904
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Patuxent River Navy Flying ClubBi-Monthly Safety BriefingNovember 15, 2016
Prepared by:
Dave Kirk
PRNFC Safety
OfficerSlide2
Safety Topic2
Winter Ground Ops
&
Carb IcingSlide3
IntroductionCold weather can and does adversely affect flight operations.Rushed ground ops, difficulty starting engine, carburetor icing, and airframe contamination are all factors to consider.
Winter flying is not particularly hazardous if the pilot
uses
a little extra caution and
exercises good judgment in analyzing weather situations.3Slide4
Pre-FlightThe tendency when its cold outside is to rush your pre-flight.Dress for the pre-flight, not the flight.
Plan on giving the plane a thorough inspection for cold weather hazards.
4Slide5
Pre-FlightBe alert for restricted flow from the fuel drains, this could indicate ice in the tank.Check the entire exterior for frozen precipitation, including frost. If you find some, remove it before flight.
Check flight controls for freedom of movement.
We do have an electric engine warmer, if it is used make sure you remove it and stow along with extension cord safely away from plane before starting engine.
5Slide6
Airframe Contamination6
During winter weather, frost and snow often
accumulates on wings and
other
surfaces when an aircraft is parked outside on the ramp.Any unremoved frost or snow will disrupt airflow over the wings and substantially alter flight characteristics— increased stall speeds, longer takeoff rolls, or an inability to fly at all may be the result. Even a passing snow shower can foul surfaces enough to make flight inadvisable.Slide7
Deicing7
When faced with airframe and
wing contamination
, you have two
choices: Go home, or spend some extra time during preflight completely removing frost and snow from the aircraft.For PRNFC aircraft, usually best option is to let sun melt frost.Don’t try to scrape ice or frost off the transparencies: they will scratch!If there is snow or ice on one of our planes and you are scheduled to fly it, talk to the manager to determine a course of action. Don’t order a deice truck or attempt to use antifreeze, car windshield deicer, or alcohol on a club aircraft please.Slide8
Cold Engine Starting8
Battery loses effectiveness when cold. Oil
is partially congealed and turning the
engine
is difficult for the starter.There is a tendency to over-prime which results in washed-down cylinder walls and possible scouring of the walls. This also results in poor compression and, consequently, harder starting. Observe starter time limit. Prolonged starting attempts can damage the starter.Cold fuel is harder for the carb to vaporize, which can lead to flooding and raw fuel entering the exhaust, where it could catch fire.Slide9
Carburetor Basics9
The carburetor’s job is simple: It blends fuel and air
together in the correct
ratio before sending it to the
engine in the proper quantity. To do this, it draws air through a narrow, curved passageway called a venturi. Much like air flowing over the curved upper surface of a wing, air moving through a venturi speeds up as its pressure decreases. When fuel is injected into this fast, low-pressure airstream, it vaporizes, and the resulting mixture of atomized fuel and air flows to the cylinders.Slide10
Carburetor Icing
10
But there’s a problem. The vaporization of the fuel
and the
pressure change induced by the venturi together cause the air passing through the carburetor to cool rapidly—in some cases, by as much as 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If this lowers the air temperature past the freezing point, and if the incoming air is moist (i.e., humid) enough, ice can begin to form on the inner surfaces of the carburetor. As the ice accumulates, it restricts the flow of the fuel/air mixture to the engine, leading to a reduction in power as the engine is essentially “starved.”VenturiIce
To Engine
Air IntakeSlide11
Carburetor Icing11
Carb ice can form at any time, at any phase of flight. Only when humidity drops below 25%, or OAT drops well below freezing does the risk decrease.
Icing is most likely to occur—and to be
severe—when temperatures
fall roughly between 50 and 70 degrees F and the relative humidity is greater than 60 percent…kind of like Pax River this time of year.The classic symptoms of carb ice are reduced power and a rough-running engine. In aircraft with fixed pitch propellers, the first indication is typically a small decrease in engine rpm.The same applies to airplanes with constant-speed propellers, with one important exception: The manifold pressure gauge, rather than the tachometer, should be the focal point for early indications of carb ice.Slide12
Detect and Prevent Carburetor Icing12
Precise power
settings, a consistent instrument scan, and
attentive ears
can all alert you to the subtle changes in engine performance.Consult your airplane’s POH or flight manual for specifics on using carb heat, but remember this general rule: It’s far better to use full carb heat too soon, than to wait until it’s too late.During your preflight run-up, carb heat should be applied fully to ensure that it’s functioning properly. As warm air is routed to the carburetor, you should see a small reduction in rpm on aircraft with fixed-pitch propellers, and a slight reduction in manifold pressure for those with constant-speed props.Carb heat should not be left on while taxiing, however, because the unfiltered air could allow foreign debris to be introduced to the engine.Slide13
Safety Briefing
QUESTIONS?
13