This past Sunday, while on the way home from a local flyin in Winchester, Va., I was cruising along at 2,000 feet with an indicated airspeed of 109 KTS at 5400 RPM. All of a sudden, my IAS drops to 64 KTS. Quite a surprise since I hadn't reduced power and wasn't climbing. Groundspeed remained the same. Hmm? What's going on here? The day was crystal clear with almost no wind and home was only 30 miles away. So for the last few minutes of the flight I wondered what was up. Something must have happened to my pitot system. Either there was a big leak in it all of a sudden, or it had become clogged.
Once back in the hanger, I looked at the pitot tube. Nothing apparent. I then stuck a piece of piano hinge wire in it and it stopped about six inches in. I removed the top cowl, disconnected the hose and pushed on the wire. Out came the remains of some sort of insect. Now what are the odds of me taking a bug down the pitot tube in flight?
Once back in the hanger, I looked at the pitot tube. Nothing apparent. I then stuck a piece of piano hinge wire in it and it stopped about six inches in. I removed the top cowl, disconnected the hose and pushed on the wire. Out came the remains of some sort of insect. Now what are the odds of me taking a bug down the pitot tube in flight?