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PA-32 pilot reported noticing his instruments were not responding as expected; and found that selecting an alternate static source solved the problem.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1364093 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201606 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZNY.ARTCC |
| State Reference | NY |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Other Victor Airway |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Pitot-Static System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19 Flight Crew Total 2385 Flight Crew Type 430 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe |
Narrative:
Air traffic control cleared me to descend from 8;000 to 6;000. It did not appear that my aircraft was descending based on the altimeter and vertical speed indicator. I checked that the pitot heat was on and it was. I then turned the alternate static source to open and noticed that the altimeter quickly corrected to 5;500 feet and descending. I immediately began correcting altitude to 6;000 feet and notified ATC. I have learned that in the future I will suspect an instrument failure if it does not immediately detect a control input. ATC was advised of my temporary pitot static problem and worked with me until the problem was resolved.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA-32 pilot reported noticing his instruments were not responding as expected; and found that selecting an alternate static source solved the problem.
Narrative: Air Traffic Control cleared me to descend from 8;000 to 6;000. It did not appear that my aircraft was descending based on the altimeter and vertical speed indicator. I checked that the pitot heat was on and it was. I then turned the alternate static source to open and noticed that the altimeter quickly corrected to 5;500 feet and descending. I immediately began correcting altitude to 6;000 feet and notified ATC. I have learned that in the future I will suspect an instrument failure if it does not immediately detect a control input. ATC was advised of my temporary pitot static problem and worked with me until the problem was resolved.
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.