Page 9 - Sept24T

individually show enough of a change in electrical draw to be verified operational sitting in the pilot’s seat. You may need to turn these items on and then exit the air- craft, carefully checking that each is warm to the touch without burning yourself. Wear a thick glove or use a wet towel, not your bare hand, as these items build heat rapidly. For that same reason turn them off quickly so they do not overheat, not having the cooling airflow they depend upon in flight.
Non-TKS alcohol windshield deice may be tested us- ing the POH or Supplement technique, very similar to the TKS test. Electrically heated windshields generally will show an increase in electrical load when activated. Often you’ll see the airplane’s magnetic compass swing when turning on and off an electric windshield, another indication it receives power. Windshield “hot plates” also depend on cooling airflow so turn on the windshield deice, note indications it is working and turn it right off again.
Non-TKS alcohol propellers also have a TKS-like check in the POH or Supplement. Electrothermal propeller deice usually uses a lot of electrical power, so much so that many systems have automatic timers that turn the electric props on and off when the cockpit propeller heat switch is on. Do not test electric props unless the engine(s) is/are run- ning, otherwise the brushes and slip rings that transfer electricity to the spinning props may burn out. Instead, during engine run-up activate prop heat, then confirm they are running correctly by observing indications on a Prop Amps or similar gauge that correspond to the ON/ OFF timer schedule in the POH or POH Supplement for that specific installation.
Preflighting the pilot
Now’s also the time to preflight yourself for the coming ice season. Start by reading the POH for the airplane you’ll fly. Focus on the Limitations, Emergency Procedures, Normal Procedures and Systems Description for ice pro- tection systems. If you’re flying a TKS system check out the online training courses on the CAV Systems website at www.cav-systems.com/tks/training. NASA has free online ice training for pilots at https://aircrafticing.grc. nasa.gov, and there are several fee-based courses aimed primarily at pilots of “known ice” airplanes easily found in an online search.
Don’t wait until your first seasonal encounter with suspected airframe icing conditions to find out your ice protection systems are working and you know how to use them. Start ice refresher training and testing your anti- and deice systems now.
Thomas P. Turner is the author of the FLYING LESSONS Weekly blog (www.thomaspturner.com) that inspires pilots to pursue Mastery of Flight.TM A prolific writer, speaker and flight instructor, Tom has been inducted into the National Flight Instructor Hall of Fame.
September 2024 / TWIN & TURBINE • 7