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markb markb
 
M$1 February 13, 2009 08:50 AM

How can "rime ice" cause a plane to crash?

On CNN they're positing that rime ice could have played a role is causing Continental Flight 3407 to crash so suddenly. How does that happen?
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guills guills
 
 February 13, 2009 01:46 PM
From a pilot's point of view.. rime is is indeed a risk to aircraft... not because it blocks moving parts but because it changes the shape of the wings.

Wings are designed in such a way that the airflow over them creates lift for the airplane. Ice changes the way the air flows around the wings and kills lift really quickly. A tiny amount of ice can change the wing characteristics and as it builds up, it gets to a point where the aircraft cannot maintain altitude even with full available engine thrust.

Ice also increases the slowest speed at which an aircraft can fly.. while on final approach, aircraft slow down dramatically and ice might cause aircraft to go below that now increased minimum speed and crash.


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williamwac... williamwac...
 
February 13, 2009 04:49 PM
This is the correct answer.
Atttaboy guills.

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trnsprt trnsprt
 
February 14, 2009 08:00 PM
I think it is worth mentioning that ice compromises EACH airfoil on the aircraft. In many icing incidents the tail is actually the weak link. The tail is particularly susceptible to icing on account of it's thinner camber (profile shape). An interruption of airflow over the tail would cause the plane to pitch rapidly down. This is a pretty good link related to smaller General Aviation aircraft http://fergworld.com/instructors_corner/ The type of aircraft in the link and anti-icing equipment is different from a commuter airliner or a major airliner but the principles are the same.

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smallshiny... smallshiny...
 
February 13, 2009 09:54 AM
From a layman's point of view, icing is a common risk to aircraft. Rime ice especially as it can form a layer of ice quickly that can block moving parts. And i suspect this is what CNN is pointing at. If the ice has formed around the flaps on the wings. On all planes there are heaters and de-icing systems around these vulnerable parts but if one fails in freezing fog at a few hundred miles per hour it can quickly make the craft uncontrollable.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_rime


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trnsprt trnsprt
 
February 14, 2009 08:08 PM
No. During flight Rime ice obstructs the smooth flow of air over the airfoils (wing and tail) not the moving components of the wing.

If the aircraft were parked on the ground overnight a build up of ice on the control surfaces could interfere with the smooth movement of the controls and prevent a safe takeoff.

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tenor11 tenor11
 
February 13, 2009 04:35 PM
Rime ice also adds weight to the aircraft but the most critical change is in the change of the shape of the wing altering the lift characteristics.

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