Monday, February 16, 2009

NASA Tailplane Icing Video

NASAEver since last week's crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 near Buffalo, interest in aircraft icing has been heightened. The NTSB reported that shortly before the accident, the crew had discussed "significant ice build-up" on the windshield and the leading edges of the wings of the aircraft, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400.

Some time ago, NASA produced a very worthwhile and instructive 23 minute video that provides information about ice-contaminated horizontal stabilizers. It presents a physical description of the tailplane icing problem, symptoms of ice contamination and suggested recovery procedures. NASA says this video was produced "as a result of insights gained from the NASA/FAA Tailplane Icing Program."

Here is the link to that NASA video: Tailplane Icing - on Google Video