A320 flight crew reported that erroneous airspeed readout resulted in a rejected takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	1740851
Time
Date	202004
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Pitot-Static System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Total 24000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

Captain rejected the takeoff due to differences in airspeed indicators on captain and first officer pfd. At '80 kts.' callout (made by first officer; since captain was pilot flying); captain pfd indicated 60 kts. Captain cross checked first officer pfd and saw approaching 90 kts.; while captain saw 65-70 kts. On his pfd. Captain rejected takeoff; flight returned to gate; and maintenance was advised.close inspection of captain's pitot probe (standing on a ladder and shining a flashlight into the tube) revealed an insect/bug embedded in the probe.during periods of aircraft non-use of 6-8 [hours] on the ground during the day; and overnight periods; the pitot probes should be covered to prevent bugs and insects from crawling into the warm probes and causing erroneous speed indications.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew reported that erroneous airspeed readout resulted in a rejected takeoff.

Narrative: Captain rejected the takeoff due to differences in airspeed indicators on Captain and First Officer PFD. At '80 kts.' callout (made by First Officer; since Captain was Pilot Flying); Captain PFD indicated 60 kts. Captain cross checked First Officer PFD and saw approaching 90 kts.; while Captain saw 65-70 kts. on his PFD. Captain rejected takeoff; flight returned to gate; and Maintenance was advised.Close inspection of Captain's pitot probe (standing on a ladder and shining a flashlight INTO the tube) revealed an insect/bug embedded in the probe.During periods of aircraft non-use of 6-8 [hours] on the ground during the day; and overnight periods; the pitot probes should be covered to prevent bugs and insects from crawling into the warm probes and causing erroneous speed indications.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.