Use Carb Heat or Not?

[mtrv]

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The one thing you have to very careful with is that if you elect to change one of the checklists you keep the "intent" of the checklist intact. The controlling document is the FAA approved flight manual (if the airplane has one - some older types don't).

Thanks to a more in depth study of my old Piper Archer II POH, I came to this paragraph, which was actually under-lined (by me, I assume). This is under Normal Procedures- Approach & Landing

"Carburetor heat should not be applied unless there is an indication of carburetor icing, since the use of carburetor heat causes a reduction in power which may be critical in case of a go-around. Full throttle operation with carburetor heat on can cause detonation."

For power on & off descents, the POH uses the term: when carburetor icing conditions are expected, for use of carb heat.

Edit --- but what the heck; the POH also says to push mixture to full rich. With my airport altitudes ranging from 4000 - 7000' msl, I don't ever go full rich either. Always "lean" right after start.

 

[I.P. Freley]

I had to think about this one a bit, since I haven't administered a lesson in 4-1/2 years... But with a little reflection, I think I might have said something inaccurate. I remember now using the carb heat in the descent on CESSNAS, but not Pipers. In that case I think we only used it when conditions warranted.

I think.