Good Day All,

One of the aircraft that I fly is stored outside most of the summer. Two years in a row now the owner has had pitot static blockages in the system lines leading not only from the static ports but also in the wing from the pitot tube. The result of course is both a malfuntioning airspeed and altimeter. It is a Beechcraft low wing single. A pitot tube cover is allways used. In both cases all of the tubing had to be removed and replaced. There is a yellow waxy type substance that totally blocks the tubes. Suspecting bugs of course. The static ports are located on both sides of the fuselage near the tail. Since the pitot tube cover is allways used, what type of method or device can be used to prevent bugs from entering the sttaic ports...assuming that is the culprit. The obvious choice of course in some kind of tape to stick over the hole...but the avionics guy discouraged this as he said the static ports need to "equalize" even when on the ground. He offered no real alternative. Any other ideas of the cause or soultions out there. Becoming an expensive yearly adventure.


Cheers

macdon221 "at" yahoo dot ca

Maybe a small suction cup device with a 'remove before flight' flag on it might work on the static ports.

Mud daubbers in the pitot tube have been my bane.

I've had problems with mud dabber wasps in northern idaho and leaf-cutter beas in southern idaho plugging up fuel drains and venturi tubes, and I alwas keep my pitot tube covered. how big is the opening on this static port that keeps getting plugged, my static port on my cessna is only about .050 inch, maybe he can get a smaller port.

Good day Macdon,
I too have an airplane outside most of the summer (because it is on floats) and I too have had the mud dauber wasps plug up my pitot tubes. It was an interesting few moments after take off because I hadn't noticed the problem in my walk around . I found out that you really can fly and land an airplane without the ASI.

I solved the problem with a small baggie or ziplock and elastic band which I tied over the pitot tube. That kept them buggers out for me. Not sure what to do with the static ports. Can't say I've ever had anything plug those they are pretty small. Good luck.

Andy

Wasps. Make a pitot cover for the pitot tube (not the store bought kind that melt solid if you forget to take it off before turning on the pitot heat). I use canvas with an elastic band to hook it on.

The static ports are easier- I used to use a velcro dot downwind of each port, and slap a larger dot offset over the small dot to just cover the static port.

What about fabric tape that athletes use to tape ankles and for grip on hockey and lacrosse stick? It will breath and still cover the static port.

Athletic tape adhesive makes an awful mess.