Cessna 208 Icing Accidents Lead to AD

All U.S.-registered Cessna 208 Caravans are covered by a new AD, the result of several accidents during operations in icing conditions, including six accidents in the previous two icing seasons and nine events in the past few months. In addition to a visual check, the directive (AD 2005-07-01) requires a preflight “tactile check” of the wing, horizontal tail and propeller blades during icing conditions and prohibits taking off with ice, frost or snow on the wings, tailplane, propeller or engine inlets. While the AD addresses some of the recommendations the NTSB made in December, the Safety Board said it was concerned that there might be a “systemic problem with the airplane’s design or with the operation of the airplane.”