← All explained questions · Supplemental · I — Preflight Preparation
If you encounter STRUCTURAL ICING in flight, the immediate action should be to
Choices
continue at the same altitude — the ice will melt eventually.
Continuing in ice escalates the emergency.
✓ EXIT the icing conditions.correct
Exit the icing conditions: climb above the cloud tops, descend below the freezing level, or turn 180°. VFR aircraft are typically not certified for known-icing operations and even thin ice can dramatically increase stall speed and drag. Structural icing on a non-FIKI (Flight Into Known Icing) airplane is a true emergency. Get out of icing as fast as possible — climb (often reaches warmer air or thinner moisture), descend (warmer air), or 180° turn (back to known-clear conditions). Even 1/4 inch of ice on the leading edge can increase stall speed by 25-50% and reduce climb rate by 50%.
increase airspeed to break ice off.
Speed increase doesn't shed ice.
ignore the ice.
Ignoring ice is fatal.
Why
Exit the icing conditions: climb above the cloud tops, descend below the freezing level, or turn 180°. VFR aircraft are typically not certified for known-icing operations and even thin ice can dramatically increase stall speed and drag. Structural icing on a non-FIKI (Flight Into Known Icing) airplane is a true emergency. Get out of icing as fast as possible — climb (often reaches warmer air or thinner moisture), descend (warmer air), or 180° turn (back to known-clear conditions). Even 1/4 inch of ice on the leading edge can increase stall speed by 25-50% and reduce climb rate by 50%.
FAA source: FAA-H-8083-3C, Airplane Flying Handbook, emergency operations / icing encounter; AC 91-74browse the reference library →
Try 10 more questions on this topic →Free, no signup needed to start.
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question. Reviewed by a panel of three CFIs + AI review.