FedEx Caravan flying in South Carolina

[Bringupthebird]

The recent crash in Winnipeg happened in just a few minutes in ice. How quick is quick and should an airplane that becomes a slushball this quickly be certified into known ice?

 

[falconvalley]

I'm not sure but I think she didn't get deiced and went out into some pretty good icing. There isn't any room for error in the Caravan because of it's slow speed and tendency to encourage ice build up on the stab.

 

[falconvalley]

There's a new minimum speed on that thing, too, in known ice and also no auto pilot in known ice. But the history of this plane is typical in aviation.

Airplane gets certified. Accidents occur and restrictions are set. Then some research is done and some peculiarities are discovered and recommendations are made. Then it's only a matter of time before the recommendations become added restrictions.

 

[FN FAL]

I'm not sure but I think she didn't get deiced and went out into some pretty good icing. There isn't any room for error in the Caravan because of it's slow speed and tendency to encourage ice build up on the stab.

That's a pretty big accusation against the pilot for not being "sure".

 

[Ill Mitch]

Why would anyone in their right mind take a job flying a Caravan? According to the Aviation Safety Network statistics, over 10% of the fleet has been involved in some type of accident, many of them fatal. Day VFR over the prairie, maybe; but anywhere else seems like an unnecessary risk. Seriously, I would like to hear from some Caravan pilots about why they have confidence in an airplane with such marginal capability in ice and such a so-so record of engine reliability. Especially if FedEx pays for the maintenance, which I would assume they don't skimp on.

The airplane does marginal to OK. Just have to be smart about it. If you go down the list of NTSB reports on the VAN where icing is a factor in the accident, you will find that all (with the exception of one, and that one is even a maybe) is all due to pilot error. Dude taking off with crud on the wings, a pilot trying to climb in ice (good thing), but stalled during the climb (Bad thing). Bunch of other stuff where the pilot did the wrong stuff.

Just know the limitations and have some plans when you know ice is going to be out there. If it looks like it is going to be super crappy, don't go.