ATR icing test after American Eagle accident

After the fatal crash of an ATR 72 near Chicago in October 1994, accident investigators concluded that an abnormal icing condition not covered by any certification requirement could have occurred.

THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration (FAA) in the 90s approved some modifications with the use of larger de-icing-boots on the ATR 42 and 72 regional turboprops. The modification, developed and tested by the Aerospatiale/Alenia consortium, was aimed at preventing the formation of an ice ridge on the wing by nearly doubling the effective coverage of the boots. The FAA so forced installation of the modified de-icing boots on ATR types operating in the USA at that time.

In fact, following the accident, the FAA banned flights in known icing conditions. It later lifted the prohibition, but set strict rules about the use of flaps (no flap 15 for ATR in icing condition).  ATR successfully tested the enhanced wing de-icing-boot at Edwards AFB, California, on 6-7 March. Here a video about that test.

A new airworthiness directive was issued covering new operational and flight crew procedures, which where to be used in conjunction with the larger de-icing-boot.

The FAA also stated after the American Eagle accident in 1994 that ATR suffers from aileron-induced roll conditions under severe icing conditions. 

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