EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: BFO94FA091 . The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 07, 1994 at EDGARTOWN, MA
Aircraft:MOONEY M20J, registration: N4393H
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER, HE DID NOT WITNESS THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 24 IN A NORMAL MANNER AS HE DID ON MANY OCCASIONS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY DUE TO THE LOW VISIBILITY. HE SAID IT WAS 1/2 MILE IN FOG. HE STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A DESCENDING RIGHT HAND SPIRAL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 300 FEET SOUTHWEST OF RUNWAY 21 AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE PITOT TUBE COVER WAS IN PLACE ON THE PITOT TUBE.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT FAILED TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER WHICH LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: NYC84LA257 . The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 26933.
Nonscheduled 14 CFRPart 135 operation of Air Taxi & Commuter PANARAMA FLIGHT SERVICE, INC.
Accident occurred Saturday, July 28, 1984 at WATERVILLE, ME
Aircraft:GATES LEAR JET 25B, registration: N1JR
Injuries: 2 Serious, 3 Minor.

DURING PREFLIGHT PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE FROM A SHORT FIELD THE PLT FAILED TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVERS. ON TAKEOFF ROLL, THE STALL WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER. PLT NOTED AIRSPEED WAS NOT REGISTERING BUT DID NOT CONSIDER THIS UNUSUAL IN THE EARLY PART OF A TAKEOFF ROLL. PLT TURNED LEFT STALL WARNING SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON, WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. PLT THEN INITIATED ABORT PROCEDURES, USING FULL REVERSE THRUST AND BRAKES. THE ACFT OVERRAN RUNWAY BY ABOUT 100 FT AND DOWN A ROUGH EMBANKMENT WHICH SEPARATED THE LANDING GEAR.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT..INADEQUATE..PILOT IN COMMAND
REMEDIAL ACTION..DELAYED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..DOWNHILL
TERRAIN CONDITION..ROUGH/UNEVEN
AIRSPEED INDICATOR..DISREGARDED..PILOT IN COMMAND

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: LAX94LA109 . The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.
Accident occurred Sunday, January 30, 1994 at WATSONVILLE, CA
Aircraft:CESSNA 182, registration: N21106
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE DARK NIGHT ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS NOT REGISTERING UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY. TIRE SKID MARKS BEGAN 1,042 FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT ENTERED THE SOFT CLAY TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY FAILING TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER AND DELAY IN HIS REMEDIAL ACTION BY NOT BEGINNING TO STOP THE AIRPLANE UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 1,000 FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE SOFT TERRAIN AND THE COLLAPSED NOSE LANDING GEAR ARE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: BFO87LA040 . The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 35034.
Accident occurred Saturday, May 30, 1987 at FREDERICKSBURG, VA
Aircraft:CESSNA 152, registration: N25448
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

THE CFI STATED THAT DRG TKOF, THE ACFT ACCELERATED SLOWER THAN NORMAL. AFTER ROLLING ABT 1800', THE STUDENT ROTATED THE ACFT TO A NORMAL CLIMB ATTITUDE & IT CLIMBED APRX 5' TO 10'. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE CFI NOTED THAT THE AIRSPEED INDCN HAD DROPPED TO ABT 40 KTS & THE ACFT BEGAN TO DSCND. HE THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS & ABORTED THE TKOF WITH ABOUT 700' TO 800' OF RWY REMAINING. HE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THE ACFT SKIDDED OFF THE RGT SIDE OF THE RWY AT THE DEP END & HIT A CONCRETE PAD CONTAINING RWY END/THRESHOLD LIGHTS. THE TEMP WAS 90 DEG & THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 2250'. THE CFI EXPECTEDA LONGER THAN NORMAL TKOF ROLL, BUT AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE, HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE INDCD AIRSPEED HAD DROPPED. RPRTDLY, THE OWNER HAD INSTALLED A MOVABLE COVER ON THE PITOT TUBE TO KEEP INSECTS OUT, WHICH COULD BLOCK ITS OPENING DRG HI ANGLE OF ATTACK OPNS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
FLIGHT/NAV INSTRUMENTS,AIRSPEED INDICATOR..FALSE INDICATION
MAINTENANCE,MODIFICATION..IMPROPER..COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT
ABORTED TAKEOFF..DELAYED..PILOT IN COMMAND(CFI)

Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
OBJECT..RUNWAY LIGHT

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: FTW97LA200 . The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.
Accident occurred Friday, May 23, 1997 at SPRING, TX
Aircraft:Beech BE-56TC, registration: N7890R
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

Immediately after takeoff, the pilot informed the control tower that he was going to return to land. While landing, the left wing of the airplane struck the runway. He stated that a loose dog distracted him during the preflight as he had to close a hangar door to prevent the dog from entering. During takeoff roll, the engine instruments appeared normal, except for the airspeed indicator, which indicated 'sixty' knots. He continued down the 7,000 foot runway, and lifted off with the airspeed indicator still indicating about 'sixty'. After lift off, the pilot knew something was wrong and told the tower he was going to make a right turn to downwind and return for landing. After landing, the pilot noticed that the left wing and left propeller were damaged and that the pitot tube cover was still installed on the pitot tube. The estimated takeoff weight of the aircraft was about 5,100 pounds. The manufacturer's published airspeed for lift off at 5,500 pounds gross weight is 89 knots. The measured cloud cover (ceiling) at the time of the accident was 100 feet overcast with 1 mile visibility
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
The pilot's failure to perform an adequate preflight (did not remove pitot tube protective covering prior to flight) which resulted in an inaccurate cockpit airspeed indication during takeoff roll and subsequent emergency landing. Factors were, the pilot's diverted attention while performing his preflight (loose animal on the ramp), the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after noticing an airspeed anomaly during takeoff roll, and the low ceiling (100 feet overcast) the pilot encountered after lift off and while returning to land.

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: ATL87LA205 . The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 34315.
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 08, 1987 at GULF SHORES, AL
Aircraft:PIPER PA-28-181, registration: N8389Y
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 3600 FT RWY AFTER OBSERVING THAT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS INOP. BEFORE HE COULD STOP THE ACFT, IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY & WENT INTO A DITCH. AN EXAM BY AN A&P MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE PITOT HEAD WAS OBSTRUCTED BY A MUD DAUBER NEST. THE OBSTRUCTION WAS NOT VISIBLE THRU THE PITOT OPENING. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS COMMON AT THAT ARPT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN SVRL DAYS BEFORE THE ACDNT WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK RECOMMENDED THAT A PITOT COVER BE USED WHENEVER THE ACFT WAS NOT IN USE.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
ABORTED TAKEOFF..DELAYED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors
PITOT/STATIC SYSTEM..BLOCKED(TOTAL)
TERRAIN CONDITION..DITCH
AIRCRAFT PROTECTIVE COVERING..NOT USED..COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: FTW83LA269 . The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 23066.
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 07, 1983 at SAN ANTONIO, TX
Aircraft:BEECH 95-B55, registration: N1757W
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

WHILE ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, WITH APRX 1400 FT OF RWY REMAINING, THE PLT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AIRSPEED. HE THEREFORE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, THE RWY WAS A COMBINATION OF ASPHALT & TURF. FOLLOWING HIS DECISION TO ABORT, THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE RWY WAS TURF, STILL DAMP FROM THE MORNING DEW. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. AFTER OVERRUNNING THE RWY, THE ACFT HIT AN IRRIGATION DITCH & NOSED OVER. A POST- ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED INSECT LARVAE IMBEDDED IN THE PITOT TUBE, ABOUT 1/8 INCH FROM THE TUBE'S END. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE & HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR APRX 70 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLT. HE FURTHER RELATED THAT HE NOTICED NOTHING ABNORMAL ABOUT THE PITOT SYS DURING HIS PREFLT INSPECTION.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
PITOT/STATIC SYSTEM..FOREIGN OBJECT
AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT..INADEQUATE..PILOT IN COMMAND
FLIGHT/NAV INSTRUMENTS,AIRSPEED INDICATOR..INOPERATIVE
ABORTED TAKEOFF..DELAYED..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..DITCH
AIRPORT FACILITIES,RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION..WET

EXCERPTS FROM NTSB REPORTS-PITOT SYSTEM

NTSB Identification: LAX93FA095 . The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 50309.
Accident occurred Friday, January 15, 1993 at RENO, NV
Aircraft:CESSNA 414, registration: N4733G
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

A CESSNA 414 COLLIDED WITH A LEVEL GROUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND DURING A SNOW SHOWER. THE PILOT REPORTED AN EMERGENCY ONE MINUTE AFTER DEPARTING IFR AND REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT UNDER VISUAL RULES. THE PILOT INDICATED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT 'I CAN'T GET ANY SPEED.' THE VISIBILITY WAS VARIABLE AROUND THE AIRPORT WITH THE LOWEST REPORT OF 1/2 MILE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TRAVELING FAST AT LOW ALTITUDE AND INDICATED BOTH ENGINES WERE RUNNING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED DURING SERVICING BEFORE THE FLIGHT, THE PITOT TUBE COVERS WERE NOT USED. ABOUT 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE AIRPLANE DURING THE REFUELING AND WAS BRUSHED OFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN FLYING INTO A SNOW SHOWER AND REVERSING COURSE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE'S ANGLE OF BANK TO BE 80 TO 90 DEGREES WITH A 20 DEGREE PITCH DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A SNOW COVERED PASTURE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE LEVELED ITS WING JUST BEFORE IMPACT. MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY AND WARNING SUPPLEMENTS INDICATE INFLIGHT ICE PROTECTION IS NOT DESIGNED TO REMOVE SNOW ON PARKED AIRCRAFT. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS USE OF HEATED HANGARS OR APPROVED DEICING SOLUTIONS TO INSURE THE ARE NO INTERNAL ACCUMULATIONS IN PITOT STATIC SYSTEM PORTS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM COVERS DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOCKED PITOT TUBE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRSPEED INDICATIONS. THIS LED TO PILOT DISORIENTATION AND AN INADVERTANT STALL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER SNOW REMOVAL AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.