Cessna 208 (Caravan) Series - Service Difficulty Alert

AL 2006-01R5
22 February 2008

Operation Into Known or Forecast Icing Conditions

The Cessna Model 208 and 208B (Caravan) airplanes (C208), when appropriately equipped, are certified for flight into the continuous maximum and intermittent maximum icing conditions specified in Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 25, Appendix C, in accordance with FAR 23.1419.  However, there have been numerous documented cases of icing related accidents/incidents involving the operation of the C208.

Revision 5 is issued to inform owners, operators and pilots of C208 airplanes that specific training for flight into icing conditions is required to be successfully completed by the pilot in command within the preceding 12 calendar months for any flight into known or forecast icing conditions.

The required training, provided by Cessna Aircraft Company, is identified in the Limitations section (Section 2) to Supplement S1 of the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)/Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), “Known Icing Equipment”, dated 20 February 2007. Completion of either of the following courses will meet this training requirement:

Caravan Cold Wx Ops Onsite C14694 (CAC14694)
Caravan Cold Wx Ops Online C14695 (CAC14695)

Owners, Operations Managers, Chief Pilots and Training Pilots should ensure their programs meet the training requirements in the applicable Supplement S1. Operators should also ensure their pilots are aware of the information contained in FAA Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) 07009, dated 30 November 2007, which is intended to inform pertinent owners, operators and FAA certified entities of these new training requirements. 

A copy of the SAFO can be obtained from the following link: 

 

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/

 

The FAA issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-10-15, amendment 39-15056. This AD became effective 21 June 2007, and superseded AD 2006-06-06.

AD 2007-10-15 identifies the latest Applicable AFM Supplement document as listed in the table below:

Supplement S1
Document Aircraft Revision Date
D1307-S1-09 208 ~ 600 SHP 20 February 2007
D1352-S1-10 208 ~ 675 SHP 20 February 2007
D1309-S1-10 208B ~ 600 SHP 20 February 2007
D1329-S1-10 208B ~ 675 SHP 20 February 2007

Transport Canada further recommends that Cessna Caravan C208 operators:

  1. Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the C208 in conjunction with the C208 AFM, Supplements, and all ADs issued to date, and to ensure that flight crews understand the complexity of operating the C208 in icing conditions in accordance with the AFM, Supplements and ADs.  The following link will aid in the development of Single Crew SOP:

    https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/commercial-air-services/publications-guidance/single-crew-aeroplane-standard-operating-procedures

  2. Exercise caution when dispatching into, or operating in forecast or known icing conditions along an intended route.  Use all available resources (weather forecast, Air Traffic Services, PIREPS, etc.) to ascertain the presence of icing conditions.  Reports of icing conditions should be considered to be prohibitive where those conditions meet or exceed the definition of moderate or greater icing conditions for the Cessna Caravan C208 airplanes as defined in applicable ADs, AFMs and AMOCs.
  3. Consider delaying departure when icing conditions will be encountered immediately after take-off and for a prolonged period in cruise.
  4. Develop and review exit strategies to be used in case of an icing encounter and consider taking evasive action immediately upon encountering icing conditions, in anticipation that icing conditions can change rapidly and possibly overwhelm the aircraft protection systems.
  5. Do not retract the flaps until the airframe is clear of ice if the airplane has been operated in icing with the flaps extended.

For further information contact a Transport Canada Centre, or Mr. Wayne Chapin, Chief, Operational and Certification Standards, Ottawa, telephone 613 993-6975, or e-mail chapinw@tc.gc.ca

For Director, National Aircraft Certification

P. Tang
Acting Chief, Continuing Airworthiness

Note: For the electronic version of this document, please consult the following Web address: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/aircraft-airworthiness/aircraft-certification