sourdough44
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2011
- Messages
- 1,634
- Reaction score
- 176
I got back from a trip near Charlotte, NC today, 14A 'Lake Norman' to be exact. The trip went fine, a few bumps here & there but no issues.
We did a windy takeoff from a KY fuel stop, gusty pretty good. Once somewhat stable in the climb I noticed the airspeed lagging with reference to power setting and nose attitude. I didn't want to alarm the non-pilot right seater. The cruse altitude crosswind was also rather strong, but the speed was off when ball-parked with GPS groundspeed.
It was 30-40+ MPH slower than normal on the indicator. After an hour I commented to the passenger the speed was lagging, I mentioned a possible plugged pitot orifice. We landed in WI where he departed in his truck.
I still had a 60 mile trip home. I got some fuel & got around to checking the pitot blade. Low and behold a bug from KY was perfectly impaled over the hole. It could not of been more evenly spaced over the hole. It may of been a common household fly. I should of took a picture before I removed it.
Once removed the airspeed was back to normal for the trip home. I had never hit a bug in flight that blocked the pitot hole, just thought I'd mention it.
We did a windy takeoff from a KY fuel stop, gusty pretty good. Once somewhat stable in the climb I noticed the airspeed lagging with reference to power setting and nose attitude. I didn't want to alarm the non-pilot right seater. The cruse altitude crosswind was also rather strong, but the speed was off when ball-parked with GPS groundspeed.
It was 30-40+ MPH slower than normal on the indicator. After an hour I commented to the passenger the speed was lagging, I mentioned a possible plugged pitot orifice. We landed in WI where he departed in his truck.
I still had a 60 mile trip home. I got some fuel & got around to checking the pitot blade. Low and behold a bug from KY was perfectly impaled over the hole. It could not of been more evenly spaced over the hole. It may of been a common household fly. I should of took a picture before I removed it.
Once removed the airspeed was back to normal for the trip home. I had never hit a bug in flight that blocked the pitot hole, just thought I'd mention it.
