Service difficulty report · Defog System · Agusta AW139

Difficulty date
March 24, 2021
Submitted
April 13, 2021
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N8CP
Make and model
Agusta AW139
Aircraft serial
41572
Aircraft time
64 hours, 126 cycles
Engine
Pwc PT6C67C
Part
Defog System
Part number
3G2141A00112
Condition
Malfunctioned
Location
Cokcpit
Part time
64 hours, 126 cycles
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

ON AN ILS APPROACH INTO KHPN WITH WEATHER AT MINIMUMS OUTSIDE THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX WITH THE HEAT/AC SYSTEM IN THE FULL “AUTO” MODE THE SYSTEM CYCLED BETWEEN MODES (AC/HEAT) AND FOGGED THE INTERIOR COCKPIT WINDSCREENS WITH HEAVY CONDENSATION. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE SAME SITUATION THE CREW RECOGNIZED THAT SWITCHING JUST TO “MANUAL” MODE HEAT TO CLEAR THE WINDSCREEN WOULD NOT AFFORD SUFFICIENT TIME TO CLEAR THE WINDSCREENS BEFORE ENTERING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT AND DECIDED TO CLEAR THE CONDENSATION MANUALLY, BY HAND. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED, APPROACH AND LANDING WERE NORMAL. IF THIS SITUATION HAD OCCURRED AFTER THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX A GO AROUND WOULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED AS THE FIELD WAS AT MINIMUMS. THE INTERIOR CONDENSATION WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE CREWS ABILITY TO SEE VISUALLY ON BREAKOUT AND CREATED A SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION IN A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT.

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