Failure of captain's pitot heater creates need for diversion to alternate airport for repairs.

Attributes
ACN	228934
Time
Date	199212
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other
Route In Use	enroute airway : dfw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	228934
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	229495
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On departure from dfw the 'pitot heat off' light illuminated. Gauge showed captain pitot heat had 0 draw. Dfw WX 600 ft overcast, 1 1/2 mi rain showers, fog with thunderstorm activity. Destination dtw was 1200 ft overcast temperature dew point was 35/31. Mem was 15000 broken and 7 mi visibility. After cycling appropriate circuit breaker with no help, elected to divert to mem for repair. We flew at 15000 ft when 'RAT' was plus 0 degree C to mem. Pitot tube was cold on arrival. Maintenance changed pitot tube.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILURE OF CAPT'S PITOT HEATER CREATES NEED FOR DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE ARPT FOR REPAIRS.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM DFW THE 'PITOT HEAT OFF' LIGHT ILLUMINATED. GAUGE SHOWED CAPT PITOT HEAT HAD 0 DRAW. DFW WX 600 FT OVCST, 1 1/2 MI RAIN SHOWERS, FOG WITH TSTM ACTIVITY. DEST DTW WAS 1200 FT OVCST TEMP DEW POINT WAS 35/31. MEM WAS 15000 BROKEN AND 7 MI VISIBILITY. AFTER CYCLING APPROPRIATE CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH NO HELP, ELECTED TO DIVERT TO MEM FOR REPAIR. WE FLEW AT 15000 FT WHEN 'RAT' WAS PLUS 0 DEG C TO MEM. PITOT TUBE WAS COLD ON ARR. MAINT CHANGED PITOT TUBE.

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.