Flight crew of light transport returned to land after the flying first officer's airspeed read zero after takeoff due to the pitot tube cover not removed on preflight.

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Attributes
ACN	279239
Time
Date	199407
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btv
State Reference	VT
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : btv
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	279239
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During my walk out to the aircraft (BE1900C) I watched the first officer performing the preflight walk around. Seeing this I assumed the preflight was completed. However upon takeoff roll I (PNF) noticed a strange noise (flapping sound). I made the standard callouts and rotated normally. Upon becoming airborne the first officer informed me her airspeed read zero. I immediately knew the pitot cover was still in place on the right side. I assumed control of the aircraft and landed. The first officer was not inexperienced in the aircraft type (type rated) but is notorious for poor judgement. I probably should have done my own walk around as well as scanned her airspeed indicator prior to V1.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LTT RETURNED TO LAND AFTER THE FLYING FO'S AIRSPD READ ZERO AFTER TKOF DUE TO THE PITOT TUBE COVER NOT REMOVED ON PREFLT.

Narrative: DURING MY WALK OUT TO THE ACFT (BE1900C) I WATCHED THE FO PERFORMING THE PREFLT WALK AROUND. SEEING THIS I ASSUMED THE PREFLT WAS COMPLETED. HOWEVER UPON TKOF ROLL I (PNF) NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE (FLAPPING SOUND). I MADE THE STANDARD CALLOUTS AND ROTATED NORMALLY. UPON BECOMING AIRBORNE THE FO INFORMED ME HER AIRSPD READ ZERO. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE PITOT COVER WAS STILL IN PLACE ON THE R SIDE. I ASSUMED CTL OF THE ACFT AND LANDED. THE FO WAS NOT INEXPERIENCED IN THE ACFT TYPE (TYPE RATED) BUT IS NOTORIOUS FOR POOR JUDGEMENT. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE MY OWN WALK AROUND AS WELL AS SCANNED HER AIRSPD INDICATOR PRIOR TO V1.

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.