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Ben Chiu Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 3. "RE: Carb Ice" 05-24-02, 17:38z  Greetings Dave: > Here is a topic that I am sure will generate some opinions and comments. > The dreaded carb ice. In my realitively short flying experience I have > never had any carb ice problems even though most of my time has been > gathered in two planes with Continental engines that have a reputation > for it. The funny thing about carb ice is unless you can get out and look at it, you never really *know* it's carb ice other than by the tell-tale signs/effects (slight decrease in rpm followed by a increase in rpm). Personally, I've never seen carb ice, but I believe I've experienced it on a few occasions. > I admit to being a carb heat junky which may be why. I prefer not to > ever have it! Most people feel you don't need it if you are in the green > arc on the tach (on our C150H its 2000-2750). That's the conventional rule of thumb that's taught. However, you can get carb ice in the green arc as well. It's just less likely in the green arc. > If I am in a long descent > at 2000 I will use it, and on down wind I pull it on before I get abeam > the numbers and the power reduction. I teach 1,900 with carb heat on for descents and heat on again abeam the numbers in a 172 (haven't flown a 150 or 152 for a number of years, but 150 series seems to be more prone to carb ice than other trainers that I've flown), but you should do what your POH and/or instructor recommends for that aircraft. > Though I practice power off I > generally carry 1500 rpm on approach as I feel the extra heat is good > (I've heard the 200A Cont doesn't make enough heat at idle to prevent > ice). 1,500 rpm is pretty standard for an initial power setting for a VFR approach to landing in trainers too. Idling for long periods of time has many drawbacks, but again, you should do what your POH and/or instructor recommends. > Anyway, I still read about ice indiced engine failures all the time and > was wondering what other people do and what experineces you have had?? In the high desert here (in Southern California), it's not unheard of to have carb ice when the surface temperature is in the 90's and cruising in the green arc. You'd think that with the high heat and the assumption that the desert always has low humidity (which is not true) we'd never run into that problem, but it happens. > I realize fuel injected engines are very much less likely to ice. Rgr that! No carburetor to ice up. I've never heard of an FI engine icing up (other than induction icing, but that's something totally different). It's just not possible. Anyway, my $0.02. Ben -= VPC OffLine Reader Version 1.1.0.0 =- Registered to: Ben Chiu -OLR.PL v1.76- Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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Subject      Author      Message Date     ID      Carb Ice    DHamblin       05-23-02              RE: Carb Ice    jerryrosie       05-24-02       1            RE: Carb Ice    DHamblin       05-24-02       2         RE: Carb Ice    Ben Chiu       05-24-02       3         RE: Carb Ice    avbug       05-26-02       4            RE: Carb Ice    DHamblin       05-27-02       5

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