Whew - ASI died in flight

Marc CYBW wrote:

Had my first "incident" in flying after some 175 hours in 172s mostly but
also Warriors and Arrows.

After 4 hours dual and solo learning how to fly my new fractional
ownership 182S, I decided I needed some solo practice and went out for an
hour of flying the circuit. Started my takeoff run and did the usual
checks (power, engine, airspeed) and after I got up to a little over 50
KIAS, noticed that the plane wanted to fly off. Odd I thought, seemed a
little
low, but up we went and once off the ground (maybe 50') noticed the ASI
going DOWN from 50 to 40 to 30 to ZERO. Great - 4 hours into a plane I
have just learned to land and no ASI.

Fortunately the tower (CYBW) was most helpful and called out my ground
speed (no wind today thank goodness) and I carefully stabilized my full
flaps
descent at 60 Kts (by the Tower) and landed uneventfully.

Looks like a bug in the pitot tube was just far enough in that I did not
notice it on my pre-flight but the forward motion forced it to completely
block the airflow.

Certainly caught my attention!

When I fly very seldom watch the ASI indicator.
The first time is when I rise flaps on takeoff.
Very often the second and last is on final.
The rest of the time I watch RPM and MAP together with attitude because I
was taught to do so.
(readers, don't take this as a rule since I may be plain wrong and with 90
hours I don't have much experience to share).

Steve
(from Italy)

"Stefano" wrote

When I fly very seldom watch the ASI indicator.
The first time is when I rise flaps on takeoff.
Very often the second and last is on final.
The rest of the time I watch RPM and MAP together with attitude because I
was taught to do so.
(readers, don't take this as a rule since I may be plain wrong and with 90
hours I don't have much experience to share).

That is all well and good, if you are just flying around local, but if you
are stretching range on a cross country, you had better be keeping track of
time in the air, speed flown, and fuel burn, lest ye run the engine to where
it sucks air! g
--
Jim in NC

How about a tach needle that begins to spin at engine RPM's. Like so
fast you cant see the needle. No big problem, just fly the rest of the
trip by feel unless its a new plane you haven't flown before
Rocky


LOL!
I have had that happen also.
Started making a weird noise and then just started roaming.

The first time is when I rise flaps on takeoff.
Very often the second and last is on final.


Yeah - but those are two very important times during the flight - when
airspeed is essential.

I made sure that every one of my students learned to land without an
airspeed indicator before I signed them off for solo. Pitch attitude and
power setting are all you need...the airspeed indicator is nice, but (except
for those nasty regulations), not a requirement for safe flight.

Bob Gardner

"chixfly2" wrote in message
oups.com...

How about a tach needle that begins to spin at engine RPM's. Like so
fast you cant see the needle. No big problem, just fly the rest of the
trip by feel unless its a new plane you haven't flown before
Rocky


LOL!
I have had that happen also.
Started making a weird noise and then just started roaming.