MU2 Emergency severe icing ATC Part 2

Incredible ATC communications about an MU2 in severe icing trouble in mountainous area. Did they manage to limp home? See the last ten seconds of Vid!!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Crash
• Aircraft
• MU2
• Turboprop
• ATC

[airnautic]

Good Morning friends,

enclosed please find the official report from the PIC of this flight splitted in several parts.

Very very good job, Moray, John and his brother!

I was the Captain of that flight and would like to add some facts and clear up some misconceptions posted by some. Firstly, I am an ATR rated commercial pilot with 13000 PIC hours in turboprop, turbojet and turbofan aircraft not an owner/operator and had extensive training in the operation of the MU2.

[airnautic]

The flight route had reported cloud tops at FL190 and we were cruising at FL230 that night, the aircraft did not have weather radar and we entered cloud, heavy ice and executed a 180 within two minutes of encountering. The anti-ice systems were on and operable according to cockpit indications. We had a tailwind of 70 plus kts and once the turn was initiated the A/C could not maintain altitude with full power, torque and temp limiters off.

[airnautic]

We descended into the cloud layer we had been above which further exasperated the icing problem. The critical problems occurred as the engines failed due to ice ingestion from the prop hubs as we descended into warmer air. The starboard engine failed and was feathered as per emergency checklist... while descending at 4000 feet per minute the port engine failed after and a restart was attempted, but unsuccessful due too severe first stage impeller damage from ice ingestion.

[airnautic]

The starboard engine was them unfeathered and restarted, then I attempted a second time to restart the port engine, which was successful. Interestingly, post incident inspection showed cracked bleed lines running to the engine inlets, all cockpit indications showed green, valves open but bleed air was getting dumped overboard which resulted in ice build up on the engine inlets and reduced air intake performance.

[airnautic]

Also and most importantly, this A/C did not have the optional pilot selectable ignition modification. It was the only A/C I have flown, and authorized by the MOT and the FAA at the time, to operate in icing conditions without it, if I had that option, the engines could have relit and the emergency would not have become so dire. The company retrofitted the A/C shortly after

[airnautic]

On another note, we descended to 3500 above SL, about 5 to 15 seconds from ground/lake impact and if not for the heroics of two IFR terminal controllers that night, Jim and his brother, who came over from a different sector and helped by transposing the radar image onto a topographical map and directing us over a valley, we would not be here, forever indebted, thanks guys. Also thanks to whoever posted this transcript, and all the encouraging posts from my fellow aviators.

Moray Isaac

[DiamondPilotDan]

<3

[Billday2]

Congratulations guys on the professionalism and what a great example to all pilots about how to respond and think in emergency situations. Super job and thank you for helping to make me think about being a better pilot.

Bill

[Av8or9557]

Having flown Garrett powered airplanes before they have always been a problem in ice. With no bypass they first stage gets iced up easily. MU2's especially had problems with ice. I would never fly an garrett powered airplane in ice or on bush strips for that reason. Probably why no current production corp aircraft use the Garrett/Honeywell.

[joeyb55]

nice job holding ur wits about u...keeping ur focus on the ball...real nice...

[1SGPARKER]

@airnautic; Good to be able to talk to you! I'm an ex RVN door gunner and ex ATC (Army). I can tell you from experience that to crash and burn is not a good thing. You did a miraculous job taking care of business. Kudos.

[Aviyaytor]

Great job from all involved. Kept cool and flew the airplane. ATC did a wonderful job communicating to the pilots in a calm voice, and gave information quickly a

[B747jj]

Quite a show. I am happy that I have not had to deal with that particular situation while I've had my own intrigues. Makes for interesting reading and the comm kept me quiet the whole time. Pleased that they made it.

[buhwana]

Was Bob Chambers the copilot on this flight?

[cfkzego]

Kudos to you guys, must have been REALLY scary. You remained cool, did a wonderful job all the way down (so to say). I also have 13k hours, mostly bush time though, but never been in such bad stuff (yet). Fly safe and thanks bunches for sharing. It WILL help others down the road.

[emp29]

I pooped in my pants just listening to this.