FAA Aviation Mechanic Powerplant (AMP)PropellersMedium
A technician is servicing a propeller ice protection system on a turboprop aircraft. The system uses resistance heating elements bonded to the blade leading edges, cycled on and off by a timer. What type of propeller ice protection system is this?
- AThermal bleed air anti-ice system
- BPneumatic boot system
- CIsopropyl alcohol fluid system
- DElectrothermal deicing system
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Electrothermal deicing system
Electrothermal deicing systems use electrical resistance heating elements embedded in or bonded to the blade leading edge, cycled by a timer to sequentially remove ice buildup while conserving electrical power.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Bleed air anti-ice is used on turbine engine inlets and wing surfaces, not propeller blades.
- B. Pneumatic boots are used on wing/tail leading edges, not typically propeller blades.
- C. Fluid systems use a slinger ring to distribute anti-icing fluid, not electrical heat.
Electrothermal Propeller Deicing
An ice protection system using electrical resistance heating elements bonded to propeller blade leading edges, cycled on/off by a timer via slip rings.
- Uses resistance heating elements on blades
- Power delivered through slip rings and brushes
- Timer cycles heat to conserve electrical power
Memory trick: Electro-heat melts the frost, cycle by cycle