During preflight inspection tape was detected covering static ports.

Attributes
ACN	109281
Time
Date	198904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	109281
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During morning aircraft preflight, I noted that all static ports forward of the wings, were covered with silver-colored 'speed 100CT' tape! The tape was very difficult to see as it blended in color with the aircraft skin and static plates. I removed the tape and inquired. I discovered that the plane had been washed overnight and (supposedly) the cleaners had applied the tape to prevent water entering the static system. Unfortunately, they failed to remove the tape. Maintenance personnel also failed to detect the tape during their morning preflight (if one was done at all!). I requested that the station manager be notified of this incident and wrote up a report to the company recommending a review of the taping/cleaning procedure and the associated checklists (if any).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING PREFLT INSPECTION TAPE WAS DETECTED COVERING STATIC PORTS.

Narrative: DURING MORNING ACFT PREFLT, I NOTED THAT ALL STATIC PORTS FORWARD OF THE WINGS, WERE COVERED WITH SILVER-COLORED 'SPEED 100CT' TAPE! THE TAPE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AS IT BLENDED IN COLOR WITH THE ACFT SKIN AND STATIC PLATES. I REMOVED THE TAPE AND INQUIRED. I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN WASHED OVERNIGHT AND (SUPPOSEDLY) THE CLEANERS HAD APPLIED THE TAPE TO PREVENT WATER ENTERING THE STATIC SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY FAILED TO REMOVE THE TAPE. MAINT PERSONNEL ALSO FAILED TO DETECT THE TAPE DURING THEIR MORNING PREFLT (IF ONE WAS DONE AT ALL!). I REQUESTED THAT THE STATION MGR BE NOTIFIED OF THIS INCIDENT AND WROTE UP A REPORT TO THE COMPANY RECOMMENDING A REVIEW OF THE TAPING/CLEANING PROC AND THE ASSOCIATED CHECKLISTS (IF ANY).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.