Dash 8 Ice
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Location: Bris, QLD, Australia
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Dash 8 Ice
Recently I have been SLF on a number of flights north of Brisbane in Dash 8's. I noticed the additional panel on the fuselage sides in line with the prop and have been told that it's to protect the fuselage from ice thrown off the prop.
By the damage to the paint on some of the panels, they do the job, but I haven't heard any noise on flights I've been on, and am usually seated in row 3, 4, or 5.
What atmospheric conditions are likely to cause ice on the props ?
Is prop ice common on other aircraft types, or peculiar to Dash 8's ?
Thanks in advance for any info which might satisfy my curiosity.
By the damage to the paint on some of the panels, they do the job, but I haven't heard any noise on flights I've been on, and am usually seated in row 3, 4, or 5.
What atmospheric conditions are likely to cause ice on the props ?
Is prop ice common on other aircraft types, or peculiar to Dash 8's ?
Thanks in advance for any info which might satisfy my curiosity.
Props are for boats!
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Usually Temps between -5 and lower in moist air ie. cloud. I get occasional icing at levels between FL200 and FL240, at temps around -8 to -12C When flying through moisture laden cloud. But I try to avoid it as much as possible. Most of my flights are over water or oceans where at these levels you tend to get less ice than over land. Probably due to different lapse rates etc. Most prop aircraft have ice skins to protect the fuselage skin. Twotters and King Air I operate have them. When flying I usually look at my wiper s to see if the cloud is going to bare ice, as this is where it seems to accumulate first.
You may not hear it breaking off the Props, as the Aircraft is pressurised and there to wirlying noisey propps out there aswell. But Dashs as do Twotters have Prop heats which are like rubbersid black electric blankets, on the leading edge of the props. This prevents the large ice chunks forming on them. But hey, this stuff can fail so thats why the protective skins are fitted. The chunks of ice can do some terrible damage to skins of aircraft.
Regards
Sheep
You may not hear it breaking off the Props, as the Aircraft is pressurised and there to wirlying noisey propps out there aswell. But Dashs as do Twotters have Prop heats which are like rubbersid black electric blankets, on the leading edge of the props. This prevents the large ice chunks forming on them. But hey, this stuff can fail so thats why the protective skins are fitted. The chunks of ice can do some terrible damage to skins of aircraft.
Regards
Sheep
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Oh yeah, we got the extra skin on the Sheds (Shorts 360's). Yep, dented too. We are now in ice season and we fly in it just about all the time (when there's cloud around). The joy of a European winter in an unpressurised aeroplane.
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Specnut, that's what the strips are for, and they do work. Only a couple of times have I been in severe icing, and as the ice is flung off the props due to the de-ice heaters, it sounds like someone on the outside of the fuselage knocking to get in.
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Thanks to everyone for the info.
Another couple of flights planned for later this week, so I'll try to get a closer look at the props and fuselage skins.
Another couple of flights planned for later this week, so I'll try to get a closer look at the props and fuselage skins.
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Gday all,
I have found the Dash a bit worse than other turbo props in the prop ice department mainly due to the low (900 ) prop RPM. The blades present at quite a high AoA at the low revs and seem to be like big shovels.
At 1050 RPM they are a lot better and 1200 RPM they seem to pick up no ice at all. If you get the revs up BEFORE the blades are already covered in it you fare a lot better.
My 2 cents
Cheers,
I'm gone!
I have found the Dash a bit worse than other turbo props in the prop ice department mainly due to the low (900 ) prop RPM. The blades present at quite a high AoA at the low revs and seem to be like big shovels.
At 1050 RPM they are a lot better and 1200 RPM they seem to pick up no ice at all. If you get the revs up BEFORE the blades are already covered in it you fare a lot better.
My 2 cents
Cheers,
I'm gone!
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Reinforced windows?
What's the point of reinforcements to the aircraft skin when there's a window in the middle of it..
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/441827/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/441827/L/
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The metro is also protected by extra panels around the front row. As only two blades out of the four are de-iced at a time to reduce hi amp situations there is usually a build up of ice during heavier situations on the non heated blades. Of course this flings off when they are heated in there sequence. You may notice some vibration from the propellers if the ice builds up excessively. As there is no overide of the individual prop heats often increasing the rpm to 100% will cause the ice to be removed using centrifugal force.
Not only do the panels protect against ice but also protect against foreign matters such as stones. Remember just because you fly an aircraft that is certified for icing conditions there are times (lots for the metro) when you just have to fly nice and low.
One more thing don't forget to warn your passengers if you are about to turn on your prop heats due to ice already on the props imagine how terrified some must be when the banging on the fuselage begins...
Not only do the panels protect against ice but also protect against foreign matters such as stones. Remember just because you fly an aircraft that is certified for icing conditions there are times (lots for the metro) when you just have to fly nice and low.
One more thing don't forget to warn your passengers if you are about to turn on your prop heats due to ice already on the props imagine how terrified some must be when the banging on the fuselage begins...
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The whole idea of the ice protection panels is to protect the aircraft skin from dents. Whenever a dent is found, the engineers have to measure its depth, proximity to rivets, joints etc then refer to their books to determine whether it is acceptable or requires panel repair/replacement. I can't speak for other types, but take a look at any Qantaslink Dash and you'll see little stickers next to each dent with a log number.
Plastic panels can sustain more damage (just take a close-up look at any Dash) before they require repair or replacement, whereas a dent from a single icing encounter could potentially ground the aircraft if the fuselage were not protected near the prop arcs.
The window in the picture is not reinforced, nor does it need to be.
Plastic panels can sustain more damage (just take a close-up look at any Dash) before they require repair or replacement, whereas a dent from a single icing encounter could potentially ground the aircraft if the fuselage were not protected near the prop arcs.
The window in the picture is not reinforced, nor does it need to be.
