C208 pilot departing in VMC notes airspeed indicator stuck at a low speed and continues the takeoff....

Attributes
ACN	1012642
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Caravan 208B
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Pitot-Static System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 1790 Flight Crew Type 85
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

On initial takeoff and climb; asi was stuck on a low airspeed and not increasing. Being VMC I was easily able to determine airspeed from nose attitude and also by glancing at the asi on the co-pilots side. Climbing through around 400 ft AGL I informed ATC that I needed to return for landing due an instrument malfunction. ATC responded and asked did I need emergency assistance; I replied negative; and asked to circle back to land. I determined that the safety of the flight was not compromised being in VMC and having the co-pilots asi; and using nose attitude against horizon. I believed I did not need to declare an emergency in this case. I was able to make an easy; successful and uneventful landing.upon pitot/static system exterior check there was some debris in the pilot's side pitot tube [was] seen by using a ladder to get a close look (not something that could be seen during normal preflight). Engineer cleared the system and after high speed taxi check; aircraft was released to service.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C208 pilot departing in VMC notes Airspeed Indicator stuck at a low speed and continues the takeoff. Using the copilot ASI and pitch attitude the aircraft is brought around for landing. Maintenance finds debris in the left side pitot tube.

Narrative: On initial takeoff and climb; ASI was stuck on a low airspeed and not increasing. Being VMC I was easily able to determine airspeed from nose attitude and also by glancing at the ASI on the co-pilots side. Climbing through around 400 FT AGL I informed ATC that I needed to return for landing due an instrument malfunction. ATC responded and asked did I need emergency assistance; I replied negative; and asked to circle back to land. I determined that the safety of the flight was not compromised being in VMC and having the co-pilots ASI; and using nose attitude against horizon. I believed I did not need to declare an emergency in this case. I was able to make an easy; successful and uneventful landing.Upon pitot/static system exterior check there was some debris in the pilot's side pitot tube [was] seen by using a ladder to get a close look (not something that could be seen during normal preflight). Engineer cleared the system and after high speed taxi check; aircraft was released to service.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

C208 pilot departing in VMC notes airspeed indicator stuck at a low speed and continues the takeoff. Using the copilot asi and pitch attitude the aircraft is brought around for landing. Maintenance finds debris in the left side pitot tube.