What is the biggest hazard of turning on wing anti-ice when ice is on wings?

• A. The ice could break off and be ingested by engines causing flameout
• B. The wing could overheat
• C. The hydraulic system could leak
• D. The icing could melt and refreeze

Answer: (A)

When wing anti-ice is turned on while there is ice on the wing, the added heat melts and loosens the ice. That sudden thermal action can cause ice chunks to break away and be thrown into the engine inlets. Ice fragments ingested by the engine can damage compressor blades and disrupt airflow, potentially leading to an engine flameout. This ingestion risk is the most dangerous consequence in this situation. While melting ice is the intended effect of anti-ice, the biggest hazard comes from debris entering the engines. The other potential issues, like overheating concerns or hydraulic leaks, are not the primary risk when ice is present and anti-ice is activated.