A C208B cargo pilot reported making a deviation to elm due to encountering ice en route.

Attributes
ACN	572713
Time
Date	200301
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : elm.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 2225 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	572713
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Forecasted WX included an airmet for light to moderate icing conditions en route. There were pilot reports of light ice. While cruising at 6000 ft, ice began to form, and I requested a climb to 8000 ft. After 30 mins on top of the clouds, aircraft entered clouds once again. Ice started to build up quickly and at a bigger rate. Requested 10000 ft and was granted. As the aircraft was climbing through 9000 ft, it began decelerating and then descending. Minimum icing speed was kept, and aircraft continued to descend. Requested a deviation to elm, and asked for vectors to the airport. During descent and part of the approach, more ice built up on the aircraft. At the moment of flare, aircraft did not respond normally, and hard landed on the runway. Part of the right landing gear was bent. Airplane taxied normally, and was reported to maintenance personnel. Recommendations should be made to provide a bigger 'hot plate' to be installed for better visibility.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C208B CARGO PLT RPTED MAKING A DEV TO ELM DUE TO ENCOUNTERING ICE ENRTE.

Narrative: FORECASTED WX INCLUDED AN AIRMET FOR LIGHT TO MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS ENRTE. THERE WERE PLT RPTS OF LIGHT ICE. WHILE CRUISING AT 6000 FT, ICE BEGAN TO FORM, AND I REQUESTED A CLB TO 8000 FT. AFTER 30 MINS ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS, ACFT ENTERED CLOUDS ONCE AGAIN. ICE STARTED TO BUILD UP QUICKLY AND AT A BIGGER RATE. REQUESTED 10000 FT AND WAS GRANTED. AS THE ACFT WAS CLBING THROUGH 9000 FT, IT BEGAN DECELERATING AND THEN DSNDING. MINIMUM ICING SPD WAS KEPT, AND ACFT CONTINUED TO DSND. REQUESTED A DEV TO ELM, AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO THE ARPT. DURING DSCNT AND PART OF THE APCH, MORE ICE BUILT UP ON THE ACFT. AT THE MOMENT OF FLARE, ACFT DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY, AND HARD LANDED ON THE RWY. PART OF THE R LNDG GEAR WAS BENT. AIRPLANE TAXIED NORMALLY, AND WAS RPTED TO MAINT PERSONNEL. RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO PROVIDE A BIGGER 'HOT PLATE' TO BE INSTALLED FOR BETTER VISIBILITY.

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.