FAR 23.2415 — Powerplant Ice Protection
FAR 23.2415 requires Part 23 airplane powerplant designs to prevent ice or snow accumulation that adversely affects engine operation. Study guide for pilots.
FAR 23.2415 is a Part 23 airworthiness design standard that addresses how an airplane and its powerplant installation must handle ice and snow. It applies to manufacturers certifying small airplanes, but pilots should understand it because it explains why your engine and induction system are built the way they are.
The rule has two parts:
- General design (a): The airplane design — including the induction and inlet system — must prevent foreseeable accumulation of ice or snow that would adversely affect powerplant operation. This covers normal operating environments, not just certified icing conditions.
- Icing conditions (b): The powerplant installation must prevent any ice or snow accumulation that adversely affects powerplant operation in the icing conditions for which certification is requested.
Operationally, this is why your airplane has features like carburetor heat, alternate air sources, inlet screens, or engine anti-ice/inlet heat systems. It also explains why operating outside certified icing conditions is prohibited — the powerplant was only tested and approved for the icing envelope the manufacturer requested.