EngineCoreandFanDe/Antiicing

Categories: GroundOperations LossofControl OperationalIssues

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ArticleInformation
Contents Category: GroundOperations

1Description
2Discussion Contentsource: SKYbrary
3Effects
4Defences Contentcontrol: AirPilots
5ContributoryFactors
6Solutions
7AdditionalIssues
8AccidentandIncidentReports
9RelatedArticles
10FurtherReading

Description
Precipitation,freezingfogorblowingsnowcanallresultinengineinlet,compressorcoreorfancontamination
and/oricing.Thiscontaminationcanoccurpriortoenginestartorduringarrivalanddeparturegroundoperations
withenginesrunning.Ifpresentduringthepreflightinspection,engineiceorcontaminationmustberemovedprior
toenginestart.Shouldenginecoreorfanicebesuspectedafterenginesarestarted,theenginemanufacturer's
proceduresforremovalmustbecarriedoutpriortotakeoff.

Pilotsmustbereadytomakethenecessaryperformancecorrectionsiftheaircraftflightmanualpermitstakeoff
withengineantiiceON.

Inthecaseofolderenginetypesconsideredvulnerabletoexcessivefanicingduringdescent,atlowthrustsettings
inmoderateorworseicingconditions,icesheddingproceduresmaybespecifiedforinflightuse.Iftheaircraft
flightmanualpermitsitandengineantiiceisswitchedONinflightafteranicebuilduphasoccurred(oris
suspected)itissensiblenottoselectengineantiicetoONonallenginesatthesametime.

Discussion
Theeffectsofairframecontaminationandthepotentialconsequencesoffailuretoproperlydeicepriortotakeoff
arewelldocumentedandaregenerallywellunderstoodwithintheaviationcommunity.However,theconceptsand
liabilitiesofjetenginecontamination,inclusiveofenginecoreandfanbladeicing,havenothadthesamedegree
ofexposureandarelesswellunderstood.

Blowingsnow,precipitation,freezingfog,slushandothergroundcontaminantsorairportsnowremovaloperations
canallresultinthecontaminationofjetengineintakesandcomponents.Theareaoftheenginethatwillbe
affectedisdependentupontheoriginandtypeofcontaminant,andwhetherornottheenginesarerunningatthe
timeofexposure.Thepotentialfordamageduetoiceingestionissignificantbutthemoresubtleeffectsofairflow
disruptionduetoiceaccretiononcompressorandfanbladescanalsoresultinlossofthrust,enginedamageor
flameout.

Theengineantiicesystem,asinstalledonmosttypes,servessolelytopreventicebuildupontheairintake
openingoftheenginenacelle.Itdoesnotpreventicebuildupintheprimarystagesoftheenginecore
(compressor)oronthefanblades.Jetenginesaremostsusceptibletothebuildupofbladeiceinconditionsof
freezingfogorfreezingprecipitationwhiletheengineisatornearitsminimumrotationspeed(groundidle).
Compressorandfanbladesareaerofoilsand,duetotheaffectthattheyhaveontheairflowacrossthem,anyice
accretionwillnormallybefoundonthebacksideoftheblade.Thismakestheicedifficulttoseeduringapreflight
inspectionandalsoinhibitsitsremoval.

Enginescannotbedeicedwithglycolbasedfluids,asisthenormforairframedeicing,primarilyduetothe
damagethatthefluidcouldcausetotheengineandtothepotentialcontaminationofthebleedairsystem.The
normalmethodofdeicinganengineisbyusingabrushorbroomtoremoveanyloosecontaminationandthen
warmingtheaffectedareasoftheenginetomeltanyice.Thiswarmingmaybeaccomplishedbyputtingthe
aircraftinsideahangerforaperiodoftimebut,morecommonly,adirectedflowofhotairfromanexternalheat
sourcesuchasaHermanNelsonunitisused.Appliedheatfromanexternalsourceismuchmoreefficientif
purposemadeengineinletandexhaustcoversareputinplacetoretainthewarmairwithintheengineandtokeep
coldambientairout.

Oneofthemainproblemswhenusingexternalheatsourcesisthedifficultyofcontrollingthetemperatureofthe
airstreamandthepotentialfordamagingsomeenginecomponents.Emergingtechnologiessuchastemperedsteam
arebeingdevelopedforenginecoreandfandeicingapplicationstoaddressthisissue.

Mostenginemanufacturersalsohavearecommended"iceshedding"proceduretobecarriedoutificebuildupon
thefanissuspectedduringgroundoperations.Thisprocedurewillbeundertakenwiththeaircraftstoppedwith
brakesappliedandisaccomplishedbyacceleratingtheenginetoaspecifiedN1(fanrotationspeed)foraspecified
periodoftime.Theprocedureisrepeatedbasedonaspecifiedtimeintervaluntiltheaircraftisairborneortheicing
conditionsnolongerexist.Someenginemanufacturersalsospecifyasimilarprocedureinthecaseofabnormalin
flightvibrationafterperiodsindescentinicingconditionsatlowthrust.

Effects
Thepotentialeffectsofenginecore,intakeorfanicingand/orcontaminationarenumerous.Theyinclude:

Fanbladedamagecausedbyfailuretoremovefrozendepositsfromtheengineintakepriortostart.
Fanbladedamagecausedbynotfollowingicesheddingproceduresforgroundorinflightoperationsatan
appropriateintervalandinparticularatanyspecificallyrecommendedinterval.Ifanexcessiveamountofice
isallowedtobuilduponthefanbladesatlowthrustsettings,subsequentapplicationofhighthustcanresult
inbladetipdamageastheiceisshed.
Fanbladeandenginecoredamagecausedbyfailureoforimproperuseofengineantiice.Ificebuildsup
ontheintakering,itispossiblethatthedepositsmaydetachandbeingestedbytheenginecausingdamage
whichcouldresultinpartiallossofthrustorevenflameout.
Compressorstallorsurgingmayresultfromdisruptedairflowintothecompressorduetoiceformationon
thecompressorblades.
Erroneousflightdeckinstrumentindicationscausedbyicecontaminatedoricedamagedengineprobes.

Intheworstcasescenario,manyoftheseeffectscouldleadorcontributetothelossoftheairframe.

Defences
Toprotectagainstenginedamageduetocontaminationbyfrozendeposits,thefollowingprecautionsshouldbe
takenpriortoflightinweatherconditionswhichare,orhaverecentlybeen,conducivetotheiraccretionwithinthe
engine:

Athoroughpreflightinspectionoftheengineinletisrequiredtoestablishifanyexistingcontaminationis
present.Notethattheprevailingsurfacetemperatureofthecomponentsisasimportantastheprevailing
OutsideAirTemperature(OAT)anditispossiblethatsnoworicemayhavemeltedduetotheheatofthe
engineandthenrefrozenatthebottomoftheintakeorinthecaseofsometurbopropenginesinother
difficulttoseeplaceswithintheintake.
Ensurethatanyengineairintakecoversorblankshavebeenremoved.
Checktheintakeforpresenceofcontaminantsandifitappearsthatintakeblanksorcoverswerenot
fittedwhilstadverseweatherprevailed,ensurethatinspectionoftheintakeisespeciallythorough.
Inthecaseofafanjetengine,confirmfreerotationofthefan.Itonlytakesasmallamountoficeat
thebottomoftheenginetopreventfanrotation.
Inthecaseofafanjetengine,checkthefanand(iftheyarevisible)compressorbladesforice.Note
thatduetotheairflowinarunningengine,theicewillgenerallyformonthebackoftheblades.
Ifcontaminationispresent,itmustberemovedpriortoenginestart.Anylooseiceorsnowcanberemoved
withabrushorbroom.Anyfrozencontaminateadheringtotheintakeortothefanorcompressorblades
mustberemovedusingapprovedmethods.

Oncetheengineshavebeenstarted,theflightcrewshoulduseeverymeansavailabletominimisecontaminant
builduppriortotakeoff:

Ensureengineantiiceisselectedon.

Useengineantiiceaspermanufacturer'sguidelines.EngineantiiceisnormallyturnedonwhentheOATis10
degreesCorlessandvisiblemoistureispresent.PilotsmustbefamiliarwiththeAdverseWeathersectionofthe
OperatingManualfortheirparticulartype(s).

Minimisegroundtimetotheextentpossible.
Duringtaxi,increasethedistancefromtheprecedingaircrafttoavoidhavingcontaminantsblownintothe
engines.
Performthemanufacturer'sprescribedengineicesheddingprocedureatanyspecifiedintervaloras
otherwiserecommended.PilotsofaircraftthatrequiretorunupenginestoacertainRPMatregularintervals
shouldconsideraircraftbehindthemallpilotsshouldbepreparedforhigherthannormaljetefluxfrom
aircraftahead.

Someenginetypeshaveadefinedmaximumgroundexposuretimetofreezingrainorfreezingfogduetocore
icingconcerns.Thistimeiscumulativeand,ifcoredeicingprocedureswerenotaccomplishedduringaground
stop,theexposuretimeduringtheinboundtaximustbetakenintoconsiderationaspartofthetotalexposuretime.
Ifthetimelimitisexceeded,theaircraftmustreturntothegateforenginecoredeicingprocedures.

ContributoryFactors
Thelackofanyreliablecockpitindicationthatfanblade,compressoricingorotherintakeicingisoccurring.
Notethaticeaccumulationonthefanorcompressorbladesatlowpowersettingsisunlikelytocause
vibrationbutmaystillbesignificant.
Theinabilitytoseeintotheenginefromtheflightdeckandtheresultinginabilitytoconfirmthattheengine
isicefree.
Theneedforflightcrewstorelyuponassurancesfromotherpersonsthattheiraircraftisfreeofcontaminant
aftertreatmentat'offgate'orremotesites.

Solutions
 Ensurethattheenginesarecontaminantfreepriortostart.
StrictlyfollowtheAOMguidelinesforgroundoperationsduringicingconditions.
AdditionaloperationaladviceiscontainedinEASASIN200829
(http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/content/bookDetails.php?bookId=944).
Ifpublishedexposuretimelimitsareexceededorifindoubtabouttheeffectivenessoficeshedding
procedures,returntothegateforappropriateinspections.

AdditionalIssues
Whilstaerodromesaregenerallywellequippedtodealwithairframedeicingandantiicingrequirements,the
availabilityofspecialisedenginedeicingequipmentmaybequitelimited.Whenconditionsthatareconduciveto
theformationofenginecoreandfanbladeicingexist,thisdeficiencycanresultinsignificantdeparturedelays.
Thesedeparturedelays,inturn,mayresultintherequirementfortheairporttorestrictarrivalsduetothe
oversaturationoftheavailableparkingstandsandotheraerodromeresources.

AccidentandIncidentReports
AccidentsandIncidentsresultingfromengineicing:

SD360,vicinityEdinburghUK,2001.On27February2001,aLoganairSD360lostallpoweronboth
enginessoonaftertakeofffromEdinburgh.AnattempttoditchintheFirthorForthinroughseasresultedin
thebreakupandsinkingoftheaircraftandneitherpilotsurvived.Thelossofpowerwasattributedtothe
releaseofpreviouslyaccumulatedfrozendepositsintotheenginecorewhentheengineantiicingsystems
wereselectedonwhilstclimbingthrough2200feet.Thesefrozendepositswereconsideredtohave
accumulatedwhilsttheaircrafthadbeenparkedpriortoflightwithoutengineintakeblanksfitted.
B737200,vicinityWashingtonNationalDCUSA,1982.On13January1982,anAirFloridaBoeing737
200tookoffindaylightfromrunway36atWashingtonNationalinmoderatesnowbutthenstalledbefore
hittingabridgeandvehiclesandcontinuingintotheriverbelowafterjustoneminuteofflightkillingmost
oftheoccupantsandsomepeopleontheground.Theaccidentwasattributedentirelytoacombinationofthe
actionsandinactionsofthecrewinrelationtotheprevailingadverseweatherconditionsand,crucially,to
thefailuretoselectengineantiiceonwhichledtooverreadingofactualenginethrust.
A320,Harstad/NarvikNorway2004.On25November2004,aMytravelAirwaysUKAirbusA320departed
thesideoftherunwayatHarstad,Norwayatalowspeedafterlossofdirectionalcontrolwhenthrustwas
appliedforanighttakeoffonarunwaywithbelownormalsurfacefrictioncharacteristics.Itwasfoundthat
thecrewhadfailedtofollowanSOPdesignedtoensurethatanyaccumulatedfanicewasshedpriortotake
offandalsofailedtoapplytakeoffthrustasprescribed,thusdelayingtheirappreciationoftheuneventhrust
produced.

RelatedArticles
AircraftGroundDe/AntiIcing

AerodynamicEffectsofInFlightIcing
AircraftandInFlightIcingRisks
Clearice
FreezingFog
FreezingRain
HighLevelIceCrystalIcing:EffectsonEngines
HoarFrost
IceContaminatedTailplaneStall
IceFormationonAircraft
IceInducedRollUpset
 IcingCollectionEfficiency
InFlightIcing
InFlightIcing:GuidanceforControllers
PistonEngineInductionIcing
Rimeice

FurtherReading
AEA

AEARecommendationsforDeicing/AntiicingontheGround:ThetworegularlyupdatedAEAGuideson
thesubjectare:
1."RecommendationsforDeIcing/AntiIcingofAircraftontheGround
(http://skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/2869.pdf)"and
2."RecommendationsandBackgroundInformationforDeIcing/AntiIcingofAircraftontheGround
(http://skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/2870.pdf)"

EASA

EASASafetyInformationNotice(SIN)200829GroundDe/AntiIcingofAeroplanesIntake/Fanblade
Icingandeffectsoffluidresiduesonflightcontrols(http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/944.pdf)

TransportCanada

TransportCanadaGuidelinesforAircraftGroundIcingOperations
(http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/449.pdf)

NASA

TheNASAPilotsGuidetoGroundIcing(http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/2_1_0_0.html)whichreviews
theproblemscausedbygroundicing,whengroundicingislikelytobeencountered,thebasicsaboutaircraft
de/antiicingfluidsand,ingeneral,howtodeiceandantiiceanaircraft.

Boeing

"EnginePowerLossinIceCrystalConditions"(http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/582.pdf)
BoeingAeroMagazineQ4/2007.

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Categories: GroundOperations LossofControl OperationalIssues

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