C182 pilot encounters airframe icing, reverses course and returns to departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	637721
Time
Date	200411
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bis.airport
State Reference	ND
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc tower : gyr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 0
ASRS Report	637721
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Was en route from gfc to spf. While level at 8000 ft on an IFR flight plan, I observed OAT (outside air temperature) of 34 degrees. Approximately 15 mins later, prior to entering a cloud layer, I observed an OAT of 32 degrees F. Upon entering IMC I began to develop ice accumulations on the wings and windshield. I immediately requested a lower altitude and momentarily broke out of the clouds. Moments later at 7000 ft I entered another layer and again developed ice. While in IMC I observed an OAT of 28 degrees and reported it to ZMP as -2 degrees C. Immediately after that, I made a course reversal and returned to VMC and back to grand forks.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT ENCOUNTERS AIRFRAME ICING, REVERSES COURSE AND RETURNS TO DEP ARPT.

Narrative: WAS ENRTE FROM GFC TO SPF. WHILE LEVEL AT 8000 FT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, I OBSERVED OAT (OUTSIDE AIR TEMP) OF 34 DEGS. APPROX 15 MINS LATER, PRIOR TO ENTERING A CLOUD LAYER, I OBSERVED AN OAT OF 32 DEGS F. UPON ENTERING IMC I BEGAN TO DEVELOP ICE ACCUMULATIONS ON THE WINGS AND WINDSHIELD. I IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED A LOWER ALT AND MOMENTARILY BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS. MOMENTS LATER AT 7000 FT I ENTERED ANOTHER LAYER AND AGAIN DEVELOPED ICE. WHILE IN IMC I OBSERVED AN OAT OF 28 DEGS AND RPTED IT TO ZMP AS -2 DEGS C. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, I MADE A COURSE REVERSAL AND RETURNED TO VMC AND BACK TO GRAND FORKS.

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.