Originally Posted by
Utah
I'm going on memory here, as I read the book around 10-12 years ago. At the time I believe they were operating at the recommended speeds. After the accident I believe they were increased. There had been several incidents and at least one other icing related accident where Ice was suspected to have formed behind the boots. If ATR had stepped up after the accident in Italy and said they wanted to make changes to the boots and increase speeds at that time, the Roselawn accident may never have happened.
Yes the accident was a chain of events. Holding -or flying -for any length of time in Icing conditions at slow speeds with the autopilot on may not be very smart.
I think that icing event would have probably brought down a 757 all things being equal. I lived not too far from the crash site and I remember that day and evening well. It was crap weather, cold, drizzle...I shudder to think about it. I would not have liked to have been holding in those conditions.
I was told at the school house that Eagle always recommended 180 as minimum for icing hold speeds. That could be true or false. But having the autopilot on was not a good decision.
Why do so many people have to die before they decide to redesign critical elements to an aircraft anyhow? (Pitot tubes comes to mind at the moment).
