Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather; Aircraft
Airplane was de-iced before we got there. When I did my preflight walk-around I had seen that the plane was de-iced and made sure that the wings didn't have frost on them. Completed my inspection satisfied that I didn't see anything on the wings. As we pulled away from the gate the ice truck blinked its lights at us to get our attention. They were on the left side of the airplane (Captain's side). We contacted them and they said they had seen frost on the top side of the winglet on the right side of the airplane (First Officer's side). I looked back and saw the frost on the winglet; which hadn't been hit with de-ice fluid. So we stopped and had them spray it off. Later [we] discussed how they could see it because at the gate the wing was on the far side relative to the truck and when we turned they could see the top side of the winglet. So we came to the conclusion that they knew they missed it and didn't tell us until we started to taxi. I checked the wing for frost because of the low temps; made sure that the wing was frost free; but I overlooked the winglet.
Taxiing CRJ900 flight crew was alerted to frost on the starboard winglet by personnel in de-ice truck. First Officer had overlooked the winglet on walk-around.