<< >> NASA ASRS Report 990118, January 2012

An apparent failure to turn off the pitot heat system on the fractional ce-560XL after ramp arrival resulted in the destruction of the pitot tube covers when the battery was turned on for cabin service thus reheating the tubes and melting the covers.

Attributes
ACN	990118
Time
Date	201201
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Citation Excel (C560XL)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Pitot/Static Ice System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

After landing the pitot heat switch may have been left in the on position. After deplaning the passengers I put covers on the aircraft while PIC was inside doing the post-flight paperwork. While he was inside I turned on aircraft power and vacuumed the cabin. When the captain returned he noticed the pitot covers had melted to the pitot tubes. We all need to slow down; adhere to checklist and check to make sure switches are the correct positions. Take extra time if necessary when tired to ensure nothing is overlooked.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An apparent failure to turn off the pitot heat system on the fractional CE-560XL after ramp arrival resulted in the destruction of the pitot tube covers when the battery was turned on for cabin service thus reheating the tubes and melting the covers.

Narrative: After landing the pitot heat switch may have been left in the on position. After deplaning the passengers I put covers on the aircraft while PIC was inside doing the post-flight paperwork. While he was inside I turned on aircraft power and vacuumed the cabin. When the Captain returned he noticed the pitot covers had melted to the pitot tubes. We all need to slow down; adhere to checklist and check to make sure switches are the correct positions. Take extra time if necessary when tired to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.