Anti-icing additives in Jet-A1 (again)

[M1900]

The flight manual for my newly-acquired Enstrom 480 (RR 250-C20W) states that 'at ambient temperatures below 4 C, all fuels used shall contain anti-icing additive'. It also says 'avoid using anti-icing additives packaged in aerosol cans'.
I have read the various historic threads on this forum which touch on this subject, but with less and less availability here in the UK of Jet A1 with FSII/AL48 already added (at GA airfields), I am not clear about what other turbine owners/pilots do about this issue.
I am aware that more sophisticated helicopters have fuel heaters that solve this issue, but would like to hear from pilots who operate a similar type of helicopter about how they address this issue, if at all.
Obviously the risk of icing is much greater in the depths of winter, but am I being too paranoid about the risk of this happening?

[nigelh]

I never put anti ice into the fuel for my 480B when I had one and never had any problems !!
Come to think of it I never put any in for my 206 , 500 or 109 ...... Guess that's because they all have same engine (s) .......

[ShyTorque]

Yes, it's a potential problem if the requirement is in the RFM. The company I used to work for (a major supplier of police aviation) banned its employees from using "Prist" at refuel time due to the alleged hazardous nature of the stuff.

I don't know if there is an alternative product (why isn't there - the need obviously exists?) but it's a concern that if there was an accident involving an engine stoppage or power reduction due to fuel icing, the aircraft manufacturer would understandably step back from liability; not sure what the insurance company would say but I think I could predict the answer.

Nigelh, the potential icing problem is in the low pressure airframe fuel system (filter blockage due to fuel waxing, or water ice crystals forming etc), not necessarily so much with the engine itself.

The types(s) I fly thankfully have oil warmed fuel filters so it doesn't affect our operation. It's surprising that all aircraft manufacturers haven't come up with a similar modification now that UK fuel manufacturers no longer supply the additive at source. Have you asked the manufacturer's advice? There might be a "cold weather mod kit" available.

[nigelh]

aaah ...Good point !! Shows i never got around to reading the instruction manual on any of them !!

[lowfat]

We Need anti icing additive in our 365 N3's due to fuel flow meters in the lines. BP turns up with a AL48 rig on a trailer and connects the bowser to the rig and pumps the fuel through it to the helicopter. A little slower but no drama.
While enstrom says avoid aerosol additives , aerosol is better than non... Remember that nice BA 777 crash at Heathrow.... that was ice crystals in the fuel.

[nigelh]

They stopped putting the additive into the fuel at Leeds Airport and it was only about 12 months later that any of the pilots knew !!! I am not aware of anyone putting any additive in their fuel .....

[FloaterNorthWest]

I think Cardiff Heliport still put it in their fuel.

We have an FSII injector system on our fuel tank at City Heliport at Manchester Barton.

[lynx-effect]

Just use Avtur FSII (F34), purchased at your local friendly military airfield.

[ShyTorque]

From a civilian helicopter pilot's point of view, an unfortunate oxymoron, there, I think, Lynx! :oh: