Pitot/Static Problems

Ryan Motte

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 05:45 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must actively trust instruments over sensory perception in IMC, as disorientation and instrument failures (like a frozen altimeter) can significantly mislead.
The article details how common pitot/static instrument failures, including altimetry errors from pressure/temperature changes and blockages of the pitot tube or static port, affect airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed indications.
Effective risk mitigation involves thorough pre-flight checks, a continuous instrument scan for early detection, using alternate static sources, adhering to cold weather altimetry corrections, and leveraging modern backup systems for safe flight.

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I will never forget my first time in true IMC. It was about halfway through my instrument training, during the winter months of New England. There were always challenges getting actual IMC experience; most of the quality clouds contained icing that prohibited any safe training.

Finally, it was a warm day with the freezing levels up above 10,000 feet. My instructor provided the typical advice: “Trust your instruments.” I knew IMC could be disorienting, but I was pretty confident. After all, I was deep into instrument training. Being under the hood was no problem.