PA32 pilot stops on taxiway without clearance to let passenger out to remove tennis ball from pitot ...

Attributes
ACN	460585
Time
Date	200001
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2450 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	460585
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : 2
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Taxiing to active for departure to show prospective purchaser the airplane. I made mention that if the airspeed didn't indicate I would continue the takeoff and put on pitot heat (it was cold and thought there may be frozen water in pitot head) passenger remarked 'did you remove the tennis ball' from the pitot tube. I replied 'no,' I didn't remove it, as we taxied out to the runway. I told him to go out, behind the plane, avoid the propeller, and remove it. I checked to make sure there were no other planes behind me (also none in front of me) stopped, let the passenger get out and remove the tennis ball. Ground asked me if I got out of the plane, I replied 'someone got out to check something.' ground said 'you can't do that and you can get a big fine.' I said 'oh, sorry.' continued and departed without incident. I didn't think this would require a return to the ramp. Next time, I will ask. Also, should only use pitot cover with red streamer not a tennis ball. Also if I get interrupted on preflight, I will start over. I had many interruptions during my preflight, preheating and low battery.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 PLT STOPS ON TXWY WITHOUT CLRNC TO LET PAX OUT TO REMOVE TENNIS BALL FROM PITOT TUBE WHEN AIRSPD DIDN'T INDICATE AND PAX REMINDED HIM OF TENNIS BALL.

Narrative: TAXIING TO ACTIVE FOR DEP TO SHOW PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER THE AIRPLANE. I MADE MENTION THAT IF THE AIRSPD DIDN'T INDICATE I WOULD CONTINUE THE TKOF AND PUT ON PITOT HEAT (IT WAS COLD AND THOUGHT THERE MAY BE FROZEN WATER IN PITOT HEAD) PAX REMARKED 'DID YOU REMOVE THE TENNIS BALL' FROM THE PITOT TUBE. I REPLIED 'NO,' I DIDN'T REMOVE IT, AS WE TAXIED OUT TO THE RWY. I TOLD HIM TO GO OUT, BEHIND THE PLANE, AVOID THE PROP, AND REMOVE IT. I CHKED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO OTHER PLANES BEHIND ME (ALSO NONE IN FRONT OF ME) STOPPED, LET THE PAX GET OUT AND REMOVE THE TENNIS BALL. GND ASKED ME IF I GOT OUT OF THE PLANE, I REPLIED 'SOMEONE GOT OUT TO CHK SOMETHING.' GND SAID 'YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND YOU CAN GET A BIG FINE.' I SAID 'OH, SORRY.' CONTINUED AND DEPARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD REQUIRE A RETURN TO THE RAMP. NEXT TIME, I WILL ASK. ALSO, SHOULD ONLY USE PITOT COVER WITH RED STREAMER NOT A TENNIS BALL. ALSO IF I GET INTERRUPTED ON PREFLT, I WILL START OVER. I HAD MANY INTERRUPTIONS DURING MY PREFLT, PREHEATING AND LOW BATTERY.

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.

PA32 pilot stops on taxiway without clearance to let passenger out to remove tennis ball from pitot tube when airspeed didn't indicate and passenger reminded him of tennis ball.