"Sputterring?" Without engaging the Seperator, 'significant' ice accumulations restricting airflow to the motor would cause a compressor
stall and even a flow reversal. Inside the plane it is a mild popping sound while outside it sounds like gunshots. It would be curious to see a radar data track. No one comes out of the clouds in a nose down attitude for 1700' in controlled flight.
ICE is only an instigator. It does not bring airplanes down. A Pilot's/Crew's failure to address the ice is what brings aircraft down. Anyone who has been flying around the northeast and OH Valley for the last week or more, knows there has been a weird inversion hanging around. Better than freezing at the surface and M0*C in the clouds and above freezing above the clouds. The Travelair was aware the whole time and alert for icing because he read the forecast and expected it. Sweating the whole time to punch through the front before his 'uncertified for known ice' aircraft held a similar fate. I take UA's from guys like this and the C172 as well, with a grain of salt. They are out where they knew they shouldn't have been and ruin everyone elses day by telling on themselves when they say, "Oh, it was only forecast for LT-MOD, but Man0Oh-Man, that schiznit was, SEVERE! WOW!". PC12 dude dropped out of the FL24*'s where it was really cold and got complascent descending through 10K', popped right into the clouds where a significant amount of precip, freezing temps with his ice cold airframe. I agree with another post here regarding a professional who likely would have been reduced to Gear and Radio Boy. But, I believe self preservation would have kicked in and such a presence would have noted the position of de/anti-ice switches prior to entering those conditions. I would be suprised if NTSB notes thes switches in their proper settings. I submit the aircraft was flying just fine until dude threw a bunch of flaps and gear out for landing. He got really slow from there and probably had the stall and AOA horn (if they weren't frozen) pounding on his head so much that he didn't hear the compressor stall telling him his power advancement was going nowhere.
Now, how is that for a 'litteral' Monday morning QB. 'Scuse the attitude, but I just saw my premiums take another hike in the -12 with this dumbarses' stupid human trick. Oh, just wait until all these little 'personal jets' start dropping like flies. I like that bit with the CJ guy and a proud 125 hours. That's a nice industry forecast right there.
Another wonderful and perfectly good airplane reduced to pepsi cans. and milk bottles. Tough beat for the kid at school.
Really, guys and gals, you see these people out there every day and you know their background, who are you hurting by asking these individuals for a moment of their time and privately expressing your concern for their safety, that of their passengers and their investment by not having an experienced and qualified individual as crew for a significant amount of time as they transition to the new aircraft? Probably you are hurting their pride. SO, WHAT! done right and in PRIVATE, they will get over it and give it as sincere a consideration as you relay to them. DON'T be hatin' or offering your services for an aircraft like this that you have zero time in. Anyone can fudge their way through any piston twin. PT6's, Garrett's, Allison's and jet's are whole new animals and much study is needed to understand their operation. Everyone knows someone with more advanced training and experience who is looking for a job. Refer such qualified individuals for such tasks. The world will be a lot safer place and people's lawns will quit getting messed up.
100-1/2