Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Human Factors; Weather
After landing; exited the runway on the high-speed while slowing from 25 KTS to around 10 KTS on the taxiway. Then instructed by Tower to continue hold short of the parallel runway. Attempted to brake and slow aircraft as we continued on the taxiway; anticipating the dogleg turn to the right which the taxiway makes near its intersection with Zulu taxiway. Brake application had no effect. Then attempted to turn aircraft with both rudder and tiller; also no effect. Aircraft was on NIL surface; taxiway completely iced over. Aircraft continued to drift forward as taxiway turned to the right; finally stopping about 20 feet short of Zulu taxiway and about 15 feet to the left; and outside of; the taxiway boundary marking. We then set the brake and made the decision to not continue the taxi on a NIL surface with an aircraft whose landing gear status was unknown. Had tug sent out to tow us back to gate. Aircraft never exited paved surface during excursion and was able to be towed to gate. Post flight inspection by Maintenance indicated no damage to aircraft. Total time elapsed from initial problem to deplaning at gate was about 95 minutes. No injuries or problems with passengers reported. Dispatch did send us a FICON Enroute; which we received about 30 min prior to landing; indicating braking action good. We were never told nor given reason to suspect that NIL or even poor braking conditions existed on the field.
Once we landed the taxi seemed very bumpy; then suddenly we came to a stop. Captain called to inform me that we landed on a sheet of ice; and that we skid off of the runway. Majority of the passengers myself included were not aware of the incident until the Captain made an announcement. It just seemed like a rough landing; nothing really out of the ordinary. I was seated in my jumpseat with my seat belt and harness securely buckled. My passengers were all seated and seat belts securely fastened. There were no injuries; no one was alarmed or scared. Both pilots did an amazing job at keeping everyone informed every step of the way; so there were no concerns besides connecting flight information of course. According to the pilots the runway had not been salted or deiced; so once we landed we slid; they tried to regain control of the aircraft and failed. We then skid off of the runway. Once I was informed of the incident; I got up from my jumpseat to check on passengers. Everyone was fine and had no complaints.
CRJ-200 Captain reports a taxiway excursion during taxi after landing due to icy conditions. FICON had reported braking action as good. Aircraft is towed to the gate.