Small aircraft encounters icing, climbs, descends to avoid. Does a 180 degree turn. Controllers give...

Attributes
ACN	205745
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pit airport : cak
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tower : apc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	205745
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed hlg into forecast moderate/local severe ice icip with PIREPS of light rime/mixed. Entered light rime at 3500 continued at 4000 and became moderate rime. Requested 2000 and got it, but ice continued. After pit approach handed us off to cak approach received report of moderate mixed from 2000-4000 at cak (near our destination of 1g3). Requested and received return to hlg. Aircraft had approximately 1 inch ice on wing and tail; required 25/25 power for level flight. During turn onto approach (ILS 3 at hlg)descended to 2700 (possible altitude violation -- we were cleared for 3000). I was concerned about too aggressive use of controls as airspeed was only 100 KTS. Landed at hlg; ice came off at 2500 on the approach. Lessons: turn back/climb/do something as soon as possible when ice appears. Quiz briefer about forecast more closely (WX improved within 90 mins). Note: I'm used to using duat; I think using duat has 'hurt' my ability to get good a 'live' briefing. I would say 'always take icing forecast seriously' except experience has shown it to be too conservative and light icing PIREPS were more believable. Better tops report would have helped a lot (they were only 1500 above me at approximately 5500). Last lesson: maybe it's time for a twin with deice. Thank god for the cak and pit approach controllers. They helped a bunch!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS ICING, CLBS, DSNDS TO AVOID. DOES A 180 DEG TURN. CTLRS GIVE GOOD ASSISTANCE.

Narrative: DEPARTED HLG INTO FORECAST MODERATE/LCL SEVERE ICE ICIP WITH PIREPS OF LIGHT RIME/MIXED. ENTERED LIGHT RIME AT 3500 CONTINUED AT 4000 AND BECAME MODERATE RIME. REQUESTED 2000 AND GOT IT, BUT ICE CONTINUED. AFTER PIT APCH HANDED US OFF TO CAK APCH RECEIVED RPT OF MODERATE MIXED FROM 2000-4000 AT CAK (NEAR OUR DEST OF 1G3). REQUESTED AND RECEIVED RETURN TO HLG. ACFT HAD APPROX 1 INCH ICE ON WING AND TAIL; REQUIRED 25/25 PWR FOR LEVEL FLT. DURING TURN ONTO APCH (ILS 3 AT HLG)DSNDED TO 2700 (POSSIBLE ALT VIOLATION -- WE WERE CLRED FOR 3000). I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT TOO AGGRESSIVE USE OF CTLS AS AIRSPD WAS ONLY 100 KTS. LANDED AT HLG; ICE CAME OFF AT 2500 ON THE APCH. LESSONS: TURN BACK/CLB/DO SOMETHING ASAP WHEN ICE APPEARS. QUIZ BRIEFER ABOUT FORECAST MORE CLOSELY (WX IMPROVED WITHIN 90 MINS). NOTE: I'M USED TO USING DUAT; I THINK USING DUAT HAS 'HURT' MY ABILITY TO GET GOOD A 'LIVE' BRIEFING. I WOULD SAY 'ALWAYS TAKE ICING FORECAST SERIOUSLY' EXCEPT EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN IT TO BE TOO CONSERVATIVE AND LIGHT ICING PIREPS WERE MORE BELIEVABLE. BETTER TOPS RPT WOULD HAVE HELPED A LOT (THEY WERE ONLY 1500 ABOVE ME AT APPROX 5500). LAST LESSON: MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR A TWIN WITH DEICE. THANK GOD FOR THE CAK AND PIT APCH CTLRS. THEY HELPED A BUNCH!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Small aircraft encounters icing, climbs, descends to avoid. Does a 180 degree turn. Controllers give good assistance.