GA small aircraft made a takeoff at hwd with pitot covers still in place.

Attributes
ACN	197612
Time
Date	199112
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hwd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hwd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 32
ASRS Report	197612
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During preflight I asked my only passenger to remove the pitot covers. (This passenger is very knowledgeable about aircraft.) during takeoff airspeed reached 40 KTS then stayed there. Since I had just washed the aircraft I assumed water had got into the pitot tubes and/or static system. Perhaps I should have aborted the takeoff. Immediately after takeoff I informed the tower I wished to return to land, not declaring an emergency. Landing was without incident. Pitot tube covers were still on the aircraft. In the future, no matter how knowledgeable my passenger is, I will personally conduct all phases of the preflight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA MADE A TKOF AT HWD WITH PITOT COVERS STILL IN PLACE.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT I ASKED MY ONLY PAX TO REMOVE THE PITOT COVERS. (THIS PAX IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ACFT.) DURING TKOF AIRSPD REACHED 40 KTS THEN STAYED THERE. SINCE I HAD JUST WASHED THE ACFT I ASSUMED WATER HAD GOT INTO THE PITOT TUBES AND/OR STATIC SYS. PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE ABORTED THE TKOF. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF I INFORMED THE TWR I WISHED TO RETURN TO LAND, NOT DECLARING AN EMER. LNDG WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT. PITOT TUBE COVERS WERE STILL ON THE ACFT. IN THE FUTURE, NO MATTER HOW KNOWLEDGEABLE MY PAX IS, I WILL PERSONALLY CONDUCT ALL PHASES OF THE PREFLT.

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.