Arrg. More Snow in the NE

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

As I sit here this morning at 08:30 looking out my window it's zero zero. I feel like I'm sitting in a freshly shaken snow globe. Our 4th major snow storm this year. Not suppose to stop snowing till tomorrow morning when we should have between 12" and 18" of snow.

That's about 24" inches of snow this year, more than two feet more than any year in history. Any the weather people are already predicting storm number 5 next week.

[Bobo]

Hi Bruce,

I share your weather outlook for today as I sit home waiting to start my snow blower. Looking forward to driving to the airport on Saturday
to dig my plane out once more and then go home because I get plowed in each time it snows. They always plow out the hangers and leave the
snow in front of the outside parked planes. What a deal.

[GAHorn]

I wonder what weight is resting on top of an airplane stored outdoors when it has 2' of snow on it. ....

Depending upon the water content, a cubic foot of snow weighs between 5-12 lbs each. 175 square feet of wing could be supporting between 875 and 2100 POUNDS of snow!

Kinda tough on the airframe....and not a force applied in the direction engineers planned for.

[W.J.Langholz]

Bruce

I loved to feel sorry for ya .....BUT you're preaching to the choir man......we have had 61" so far this year and the most snow usually comes in march

W.

[3958v]

Bruce Dont I remember you complaining a few years ago about no snow for skis on the cub? Of course if you want to go out latter in the 50 mph winds you shouldn't need them as takeoffs can be just like at work. I got 58v out last week and took a local flt. Didn't seem too windy until I took off. Then I tuned in to the nearest airport with an awos only to hear the winds were gusting to 28 Knts about 60 degrees to the runway. Then I got to thinking about the snow banks by the runway. So I didn't fly too long but all ended well and I have promised my self I will take a harder look at the winds next time. Must say that it still felt good to get up again. Bill K

[jrenwick]

I wonder what weight is resting on top of an airplane stored outdoors when it has 2' of snow on it. ....

Depending upon the water content, a cubic foot of snow weighs between 5-12 lbs each. 175 square feet of wing could be supporting between 875 and 2100 POUNDS of snow!

Kinda tough on the airframe....and not a force applied in the direction engineers planned for.

This is exactly right, and I've heard plenty of good advice that snow needs to be removed promptly from aircraft stored outdoors. Where I live, most aircraft are hangared.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

That's odd. The only airplanes I've every heard damaged because of snow on top of them wasn't only from the snow on top of them but the hanger that came down on them JUST before the snow that was on top of the hanger.

All I've got to say is if a Cessna wing is going to fold at Quakertown it won't be mine. What's the chances of a nearly totaled airplane getting even more damage. I just don't see it happening. It will be the perfectly good airplane next to mine.

You know maybe if I'd had 2100lb of snow on the wings LAST time winds were blowing at 60 knots like they are predicted tonight, I wouldn't have a wrecked airplane the snow would have held it in place.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

W. I've seen a picture of your snowblower. Your all set.

[hilltop170]

I wonder what weight is resting on top of an airplane stored outdoors when it has 2' of snow on it. ....

Depending upon the water content, a cubic foot of snow weighs between 5-12 lbs each. 175 square feet of wing could be supporting between 875 and 2100 POUNDS of snow!

Kinda tough on the airframe....and not a force applied in the direction engineers planned for.

The most conservative approved flight load factor is -1.52 so 1.52 x 2200lb. = 3344lb, so no problem.

And if I remember correctly, the ultimate load before failure is 150% above that so 3344 x 1.5 = 5016lb, so REALLY no problem.

Just be sure the wing tie-down ropes are tight and strong enough before you start removing the snow. Use a soft bristle push broom and remove one broom width at a time from each wing so the differential weight on the wings is not too great. Otherwise you have the potential to tip the plane over.

[Jimmy M.]

Woke up to this a few years ago, scared the daylights out of me.................
Cleaned it off, had a good look, ..........been flying ever since.
They are stronger than they seem ..

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

About 26 hours later it is still snowing on and off. Looking at the NEXRAD we'll probably have periods off snow for the rest of the day. Lucky for us the roads aren't that bad because they were to warm for the snow to accumulate for the first 12 hours or so. Drove the 4x4 to work today anyway and glad I did as most of the roads had been drifted nearly closed or at least to one lane.

Don't know if the winds got to 60mph last night as predicted, they're suppost to gust to 38kts today. Looking forward to landing on a roof top helipad today. That's always great fun.

[ron74887]

Bruce, waht a wuss!!! I can not believe you didn't ride that Harley!!!! Ron

[W.J.Langholz]

Jim

Do you recall was that a wet snow...looks like it in the background sticking to the trees. Just wondering because it would make a big difference on lbs per sq in. You being farther nort are most of your snow falls "dry" snow? This year for us we have seen more moister in the snow. We are 60+ inches and the weather man is saying that it equals 5-6 inches of rain, prabably floods this spring all over the place.
I know how to figure snow load on a rafter but it would be interesting to know what the snow load would be on your wings in the picture......wow

W.

[counsellj]

You all need to quit your complaining. This Pacific Northwest guy would give anything to be shoveling snow, sweeping wings are anything else associated with winter. Instead I get to "enjoy" beautiful Hell Rio, I mean Del Rio, Mexico, I mean TX. Where we went from 72 degrees to snow in 14 hours Tuesday. Of course we are back to 70 degrees again. That is fine for fall/spring, but not winter. Oh, yeah, its been too damn windy to fly! Maybe tomorrow. You all be safe, build a snowman for me and when you thaw out, come down my way and I will let you mow my lawn.

Jughead

[Jimmy M.]

It was a fairly dry snow, pretty cold......I guess it just snowed all nite
with no wind. I've since taken to blocking the front of the floats to
keep the tail real low so the snow mostly falls off on it's own.
Probably going to look at selling the Chief next spring.....now that the Cessna is up
and running, the old girl is getting neglected....