 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Piper lance pilot experienced pitot tube icing causing his airspeed to fail, and the need to switch to alternate air static source for the altimeter and vertical speed system, due to the malfunctioning of the pitot heating system.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 503660 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200103 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : avp.airport |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Weather Elements | Ice |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : avp.tracon tracon : abe.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 503660 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : air speed indication other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
En route to avp while on an IFR flight plan, I encountered light rime icing which caused a blockage of the pitot static system, which resulted in a failure of the airspeed indicator, vsi, and altimeter despite the use of pitot tube heat. I corrected altimeter and vsi problem with use of an alternate static source. I reported status to both allentown and avp approach controllers. I broke out on the approach 500 ft above decision altitude and landed without incident. I gave my name and address to airport authority/authorized who had requested it. I will have my pitot tube heater evaluated (although it is functional, it may not be producing adequate heat) and will try to avoid future icing encounters.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PIPER LANCE PLT EXPERIENCED PITOT TUBE ICING CAUSING HIS AIRSPD TO FAIL, AND THE NEED TO SWITCH TO ALTERNATE AIR STATIC SOURCE FOR THE ALTIMETER AND VERT SPD SYS, DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE PITOT HEATING SYS.
Narrative: ENRTE TO AVP WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, I ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RIME ICING WHICH CAUSED A BLOCKAGE OF THE PITOT STATIC SYS, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE AIRSPD INDICATOR, VSI, AND ALTIMETER DESPITE THE USE OF PITOT TUBE HEAT. I CORRECTED ALTIMETER AND VSI PROB WITH USE OF AN ALTERNATE STATIC SOURCE. I RPTED STATUS TO BOTH ALLENTOWN AND AVP APCH CTLRS. I BROKE OUT ON THE APCH 500 FT ABOVE DECISION ALT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I GAVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS TO ARPT AUTH WHO HAD REQUESTED IT. I WILL HAVE MY PITOT TUBE HEATER EVALUATED (ALTHOUGH IT IS FUNCTIONAL, IT MAY NOT BE PRODUCING ADEQUATE HEAT) AND WILL TRY TO AVOID FUTURE ICING ENCOUNTERS.
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.