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The pilot of a PA32 experienced a loss of pitot static system instruments as a result of excess water in the system lines. The flight diverted for maintenance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 334627 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199604 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mdt airport : ptw |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : mdt artcc : zkc |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 350 |
| ASRS Report | 334627 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Aircraft sat outside for 2 days in rain and thunderstorms. Climbed through broken clouds from ptw to har VOR up to 6000 ft. Temperature at altitude was -1 degree C. Pitot heat was on and no airframe ice since I was on top. Approximately 15 mins after level off, started getting erroneous airspeed and altimeter readings. Asked approach for mode C readout which was 6800 ft MSL. Tried alternate static, but no better. Diverted to cxy and problem cleared up on approach to cxy. Next day maintenance inspected pitot static system and drained substantial amount of water out of the lines. No problem since.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THE PLT OF A PA32 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PITOT STATIC SYS INSTS AS A RESULT OF EXCESS WATER IN THE SYS LINES. THE FLT DIVERTED FOR MAINT.
Narrative: ACFT SAT OUTSIDE FOR 2 DAYS IN RAIN AND TSTMS. CLBED THROUGH BROKEN CLOUDS FROM PTW TO HAR VOR UP TO 6000 FT. TEMP AT ALT WAS -1 DEG C. PITOT HEAT WAS ON AND NO AIRFRAME ICE SINCE I WAS ON TOP. APPROX 15 MINS AFTER LEVEL OFF, STARTED GETTING ERRONEOUS AIRSPD AND ALTIMETER READINGS. ASKED APCH FOR MODE C READOUT WHICH WAS 6800 FT MSL. TRIED ALTERNATE STATIC, BUT NO BETTER. DIVERTED TO CXY AND PROB CLRED UP ON APCH TO CXY. NEXT DAY MAINT INSPECTED PITOT STATIC SYS AND DRAINED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER OUT OF THE LINES. NO PROB SINCE.
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.