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Possible low flight over populated area in proximity of TCA after small aircraft pitot static system is found to be inoperative due to mud ingestion.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 182011 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199106 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : stl airport : 1h0 |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 600 agl bound upper : 800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : stl |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | climbout : takeoff cruise other ground : preflight |
| Route In Use | approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 15 |
| ASRS Report | 182011 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
In an attempt at a sunset/evening flight I made a cursory preflight and failed to notice mud dobbers had plugged not only the pitot but also the static parts. These are located on a blade under the left wing. During takeoff roll the airspeed went to 40 mph and I rotated. After airborne the indicated airspeed went to 0. I flew across I70 from 1HO to 3SQ about 7 or 8 mi. While the area is not shown on a sectional or TCA chart as 'city,' it is built up, populated. I did not realize my static port to be plugged until I was approximately 1 mi west of 3SQ. I tried climbing and no movement of the altitude. I opened the alternate static port and the altimeter popped up. I am sure I didn't go above the floor of the stl TCA, 2000', but an unsure of the altitude I had crossing I70 in the st peters area. Initially the altitude and vertical speed functioned normally with the alternate static source in normal. I think a plastic boot over the pitot static blade would cure the problem. I have since seen one. I am not aware of availability. Until one is purchased, I am using red plastic tape and doing a more thorough preflight. I would normally be at 1300-1400' AGL over this are and I feel I was about 600-800'.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: POSSIBLE LOW FLT OVER POPULATED AREA IN PROX OF TCA AFTER SMA PITOT STATIC SYSTEM IS FOUND TO BE INOP DUE TO MUD INGESTION.
Narrative: IN AN ATTEMPT AT A SUNSET/EVENING FLT I MADE A CURSORY PREFLT AND FAILED TO NOTICE MUD DOBBERS HAD PLUGGED NOT ONLY THE PITOT BUT ALSO THE STATIC PARTS. THESE ARE LOCATED ON A BLADE UNDER THE LEFT WING. DURING TKOF ROLL THE AIRSPD WENT TO 40 MPH AND I ROTATED. AFTER AIRBORNE THE INDICATED AIRSPD WENT TO 0. I FLEW ACROSS I70 FROM 1HO TO 3SQ ABOUT 7 OR 8 MI. WHILE THE AREA IS NOT SHOWN ON A SECTIONAL OR TCA CHART AS 'CITY,' IT IS BUILT UP, POPULATED. I DID NOT REALIZE MY STATIC PORT TO BE PLUGGED UNTIL I WAS APPROX 1 MI W OF 3SQ. I TRIED CLBING AND NO MOVEMENT OF THE ALT. I OPENED THE ALTERNATE STATIC PORT AND THE ALTIMETER POPPED UP. I AM SURE I DIDN'T GO ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE STL TCA, 2000', BUT AN UNSURE OF THE ALT I HAD XING I70 IN THE ST PETERS AREA. INITIALLY THE ALT AND VERT SPD FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WITH THE ALTERNATE STATIC SOURCE IN NORMAL. I THINK A PLASTIC BOOT OVER THE PITOT STATIC BLADE WOULD CURE THE PROB. I HAVE SINCE SEEN ONE. I AM NOT AWARE OF AVAILABILITY. UNTIL ONE IS PURCHASED, I AM USING RED PLASTIC TAPE AND DOING A MORE THOROUGH PREFLT. I WOULD NORMALLY BE AT 1300-1400' AGL OVER THIS ARE AND I FEEL I WAS ABOUT 600-800'.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.