An SF340 flight crew allows ice to build up on their propellers at 16000 ft. The aircraft loses airspace and altitude as crew attempts to clear the ice off of the propellers.

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Attributes
ACN	405453
Time
Date	199806
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : alo
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15500 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	405453
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We encountered moderate to severe rime ice at 16000 ft. I didn't react to it quickly enough and as a result lost about 30 KTS of airspeed. I called for maximum power and disconnected the autoplt, lowered the nose to regain airspeed. We descended about 500 ft. ZAU was notified and we initiated a climb back to 16000 ft. We had been in the aircraft for about 7 hours without a break, having showed at XA15. Fatigue played a very large part in this situation. The first officer saw the situation developing and said nothing. I believe I may have fallen asleep for a few moments. I was awakened by the propellers vibrating because of the ice accumulation on them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SF340 FLC ALLOWS ICE TO BUILD UP ON THEIR PROPS AT 16000 FT. THE ACFT LOSES AIRSPACE AND ALT AS CREW ATTEMPTS TO CLR THE ICE OFF OF THE PROPS.

Narrative: WE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE RIME ICE AT 16000 FT. I DIDN'T REACT TO IT QUICKLY ENOUGH AND AS A RESULT LOST ABOUT 30 KTS OF AIRSPD. I CALLED FOR MAX PWR AND DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT, LOWERED THE NOSE TO REGAIN AIRSPD. WE DSNDED ABOUT 500 FT. ZAU WAS NOTIFIED AND WE INITIATED A CLB BACK TO 16000 FT. WE HAD BEEN IN THE ACFT FOR ABOUT 7 HRS WITHOUT A BREAK, HAVING SHOWED AT XA15. FATIGUE PLAYED A VERY LARGE PART IN THIS SIT. THE FO SAW THE SIT DEVELOPING AND SAID NOTHING. I BELIEVE I MAY HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP FOR A FEW MOMENTS. I WAS AWAKENED BY THE PROPS VIBRATING BECAUSE OF THE ICE ACCUMULATION ON THEM.

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.