What does ice do to the stalling characteristics in relation to speed and AOA?

• A. Airplane will stall at a higher speed and at a lower AOA.
• B. Airplane will stall at a lower speed and at a higher AOA.
• C. Ice decreases stall speed.
• D. Ice has no effect on stall characteristics.

Answer: (A)

Ice on a wing roughens the surface and disturbs the smooth airflow, which lowers the wing’s maximum lift coefficient. With a smaller CLmax, you must fly faster to generate the same lift to support the airplane’s weight, so the stall speed increases. Because stall happens when the wing reaches its (now reduced) CLmax, the angle of attack at which stall occurs is also lower. In simple terms: icing raises the stall speed and lowers the stall angle of attack. The other ideas—stall speed decreasing or icing having no effect—don’t align with how a rough, heavier wing affects lift.