BE36 pilot on an IFR flight plan encounters icing and is unable to maintain altitude. ATC not immedi...

Attributes
ACN	735523
Time
Date	200704
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : nello
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Ice Windshear
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 8200 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	735523
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

The flight had encountered light rime ice in clouds. The ceiling was broken and the aircraft was rarely in the clouds. The ice was melting in the clear. Upon entering a cloud layer the aircraft rapidly lost airspeed. I immediately went to maximum power and disconnected the autoplt. The aircraft was still losing airspeed. I told ZTL that I was unable to maintain altitude and was beginning a descent. The controller told me to 'stand by.' I restated that I was unable to maintain altitude and was descending. The controller again told me to stand by; that they were changing controllers. I began a descent and the controller eventually cleared me to 6000 ft MSL. After initiating the descent the light trace of ice that had built up on the aircraft began to melt and there was no more windshear encountered in the clouds. There were no traffic conflicts in this situation. In retrospect; I should have radioed 'pan; pan; pan' to the controller to get his attention and let him know that I needed immediate assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE36 PLT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN ENCOUNTERS ICING AND IS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. ATC NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPONSIVE.

Narrative: THE FLT HAD ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RIME ICE IN CLOUDS. THE CEILING WAS BROKEN AND THE ACFT WAS RARELY IN THE CLOUDS. THE ICE WAS MELTING IN THE CLR. UPON ENTERING A CLOUD LAYER THE ACFT RAPIDLY LOST AIRSPD. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MAX PWR AND DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT. THE ACFT WAS STILL LOSING AIRSPD. I TOLD ZTL THAT I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AND WAS BEGINNING A DSCNT. THE CTLR TOLD ME TO 'STAND BY.' I RESTATED THAT I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AND WAS DSNDING. THE CTLR AGAIN TOLD ME TO STAND BY; THAT THEY WERE CHANGING CTLRS. I BEGAN A DSCNT AND THE CTLR EVENTUALLY CLRED ME TO 6000 FT MSL. AFTER INITIATING THE DSCNT THE LIGHT TRACE OF ICE THAT HAD BUILT UP ON THE ACFT BEGAN TO MELT AND THERE WAS NO MORE WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTERED IN THE CLOUDS. THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS IN THIS SIT. IN RETROSPECT; I SHOULD HAVE RADIOED 'PAN; PAN; PAN' TO THE CTLR TO GET HIS ATTN AND LET HIM KNOW THAT I NEEDED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

BE36 pilot on an IFR flight plan encounters icing and is unable to maintain altitude. ATC not immediately responsive.