| Brief
Mission Description / other comments:
Departed
from Georgetown (GED) for the pickup at Lancaster(LNS) in VFR
conditions under an IFR flight plan (N8260Y). Picked up Eric and Kerry
and departed at 8:00am IFR as CMF60Y. Strong westerly winds were
expected to extend the outbound flight time, but they were even
stronger than expected (expected 30kts; experienced 40+kts). The last
one third of the trip was in instrument conditions at 6,000’.
Approximately 40nm from our destination we began to pick up ICE on the
windscreen and airframe, and requested an immediate descent out of the
ice. At 5,000’ we found rain, and the ice began to dissipate;
so we continued to our destination.
The
PAX gave me an expected departure time of 2:30 local,
1830z. At that time, the weather had turned into ‘an
unexpected winter
storm’ per the briefer. ‘A winter cold front out of
nowhere’. Reports of widespread ice from 4000’ on
up, as well as widespread moderate turbulence for our route. The MEAs
in the area prevented our flying any lower (to avoid ice), so the
flight was delayed with the intention of checking weather every hour
from the comfort of the FBO.
After
two additional hours of watching weather and monitoring pilot reports,
thunderstorms and hail were added to the challenge of getting home. The
mission was cancelled for the day due to weather. Outlooks for the
morning looked more feasible. I attempted to contact Angel Flight twice
to get some guidance on what to do with the PAX, but no one called me
back. Since I was fairly certain the hotel expenses would put a burden
on the PAX, I assumed their expenses and booked rooms for all of us.
The
next morning’s forecast continued with ICE and moderate
turbulence. Ice being the concern here from 5,000’ on up. I
filed for 5,000’ out of BTP; IFR as CMF60Y. I had identified
airports every 15 minutes along our route of flight to run to if ICE
actually showed up. The first 20 minutes out of BTP were in VMC, but
after the next 10 minutes in the clouds we started to pick up trace
amounts of rime ICE again. I asked for a 500’ descent to
4500’, and the controllers granted this. At 4500’
we broke out, and could see that this altitude would keep us out of the
clouds and visually over the mountains all the way home. Bumpy ride
– but we made it from Pittsburgh to Lancaster
in only an hour and 15 minutes….
40+ knts tailwind didn’t hurt. Dropped the PAX
off around 10am
on the 17th.
The
last leg was done to GED, VFR as N8260Y. Light to moderate turbulence,
but a fast ride home.
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