Pilots failed to turn on pitot heat in WX.

Attributes
ACN	271517
Time
Date	199405
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdl
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute airway : bdl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1410 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	271517
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Although I'm a cfii with 150 plus hours in sel complex, I only had 3 hours in this aircraft (PA32R-300). I needed more hours to satisfy insurance requirements for check-out, so I flew as l-seat pilot with a properly qualified and checked- out cfii in r-seat. Although IMC was forecast for route, no ice was forecast (I asked specifically during FSS WX brief). After I had hand-flown hard IFR for 60 plus mins at 7000 and 9000, I let the r-hand cfii fly for 10 mins while I relaxed, refolded maps, etc. Aircraft was cruising at 160 mph indicated. While I was checking chart to retune navigation radios, r-hand cfii remarked on airspeed 70 mph indicated! I checked left wing for ice (yes), and pitot heat on (no!). I turned on pitot heat and waited for airspeed to increase -- altimeter still 9000! When airspeed dropped to 60-65 mph, I asked ATC to descend to 7000 ft 'now.' ATC was unable due to no control over lower altitudes. I stated aircraft will descend to 7000! Now.' ATC asked if I was declaring emergency and I confirmed 'affirmative.' as we descended, airspeed increased steadily, to 180-190 mph indicated, and we levelled smoothly at 7000! Passing 7200 ft. I advised ATC that problem was resolved and assured ATC 'no need of further assistance.' flight proceeded routinely thereafter, though we obtained approval to descend to 5000 ft a few mins later, to remove remaining ice. Nothing more was said about our brief emergency. Learning conclusions: 1) always keep pitot heat on in visible moisture below 40 degrees F, even if ice is not forecast. 2) always monitor your instructor's performance as well as you hope he/she is monitoring yours!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTS FAILED TO TURN ON PITOT HEAT IN WX.

Narrative: ALTHOUGH I'M A CFII WITH 150 PLUS HRS IN SEL COMPLEX, I ONLY HAD 3 HRS IN THIS ACFT (PA32R-300). I NEEDED MORE HRS TO SATISFY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHK-OUT, SO I FLEW AS L-SEAT PLT WITH A PROPERLY QUALIFIED AND CHKED- OUT CFII IN R-SEAT. ALTHOUGH IMC WAS FORECAST FOR RTE, NO ICE WAS FORECAST (I ASKED SPECIFICALLY DURING FSS WX BRIEF). AFTER I HAD HAND-FLOWN HARD IFR FOR 60 PLUS MINS AT 7000 AND 9000, I LET THE R-HAND CFII FLY FOR 10 MINS WHILE I RELAXED, REFOLDED MAPS, ETC. ACFT WAS CRUISING AT 160 MPH INDICATED. WHILE I WAS CHKING CHART TO RETUNE NAV RADIOS, R-HAND CFII REMARKED ON AIRSPD 70 MPH INDICATED! I CHKED L WING FOR ICE (YES), AND PITOT HEAT ON (NO!). I TURNED ON PITOT HEAT AND WAITED FOR AIRSPD TO INCREASE -- ALTIMETER STILL 9000! WHEN AIRSPD DROPPED TO 60-65 MPH, I ASKED ATC TO DSND TO 7000 FT 'NOW.' ATC WAS UNABLE DUE TO NO CTL OVER LOWER ALTS. I STATED ACFT WILL DSND TO 7000! NOW.' ATC ASKED IF I WAS DECLARING EMER AND I CONFIRMED 'AFFIRMATIVE.' AS WE DSNDED, AIRSPD INCREASED STEADILY, TO 180-190 MPH INDICATED, AND WE LEVELLED SMOOTHLY AT 7000! PASSING 7200 FT. I ADVISED ATC THAT PROB WAS RESOLVED AND ASSURED ATC 'NO NEED OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE.' FLT PROCEEDED ROUTINELY THEREAFTER, THOUGH WE OBTAINED APPROVAL TO DSND TO 5000 FT A FEW MINS LATER, TO REMOVE REMAINING ICE. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID ABOUT OUR BRIEF EMER. LEARNING CONCLUSIONS: 1) ALWAYS KEEP PITOT HEAT ON IN VISIBLE MOISTURE BELOW 40 DEGS F, EVEN IF ICE IS NOT FORECAST. 2) ALWAYS MONITOR YOUR INSTRUCTOR'S PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS YOU HOPE HE/SHE IS MONITORING YOURS!

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.