http://www.theday.com/article/20101225/NWS01/312259946/1018

Security efforts Jacked up at L&M

By Judy Benson

Publication: The Day

New London, CT

Date: 12-26-2010 17:30

Program: Cal-Ore Life Flight
    311 Cove Road
    Brookings, OR 97415
    541-469-7911

Type: Cessna 421C
Tail #: N31CU
Operator/Vendor: none

Team: Pilot, RN, Paramedic. No injuries reported. Patient on board.

Description:
    The interfacility flight originated in Crescent City, CA (CEC), and
    was destined for Medford, OR (MFR).  The weather was IFR with marginal
    VFR ceilings at both departure and destination, along with mountain
    obscuration, rain and forecast light to moderate icing.  All preflight
    checks were normal, including deice equipment, and the risk assessment
    matrix was within the acceptable range. The flight proceeded normally
    with the pilot reporting some ice at 11,000′ in cruise, which was
    easily removed with the deice equipment. 
   
    On descent into MFR, ice accumulation increased, and when leveling off
    at approximately 8,000′, the pilot experienced a vibration followed by
    the elevator control oscillations. Suspecting tail ice, the pilot
    continued to select the deice boots. Though he confirmed the wing
    boots were expanding and breaking off the ice, he did not get the
    proper cockpit annunciation indicating that the tail was being deiced.
    The pilot then confirmed a tailplane ice issue. The oscillations
    continued on descent.
   
    The pilot elected to declare an emergency and asked for vectors direct
    to the airport. He was vectored to a lower and warmer altitude at
    which time the ice begin to depart the aircraft and the elevator
    control smoothed out. The pilot then accepted the ILS approach and
    made a normal “no-flap” landing. The aircraft was met by the ground
    ambulance and the patient was transported without incident. The
    aircraft was taken out of service and all appropriate calls and
    notifications made.

Additional Info:
    Maintenance personnel have determined that a faulty pressure air line
    in the deice boot had shifted, allowing expanded air to escape
    overboard on the left vertical stabilizer deice boot edge.  This
    caused the tail deice boots to not inflate properly. 
   
    A follow-up discussion was conducted with all of  the crew members and
    personnel involved, and the incident is being referred to the QM
    committee for review and comment.

Source: Dan Brattain, Program Director

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programs when an accident / incident has occurred. Please share the above
information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please
contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email:
coordinator@concern-network.org.

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