Pitot tube blockage grounded me at 4,500 feet over Tulsa last Thursday

I was cruising through a layer of clouds when my airspeed indicator dropped to zero and my altimeter froze. Found mud dauber nests completely blocking both pitot tube openings after I landed. Has anyone else dealt with unexpected insect blockages on older aircraft?

2 comments

2 Comments

joelthomas21d ago

Happened to me once in Arizona. Annoying as hell. Just part of owning older planes, I guess.

barbarahill21d ago

That carb heat issue in Arizona heat? Were you dealing with actual ice buildup in the carburetor or just vapor lock from the fuel boiling? I've heard those old Continentals can get finicky when the temps hit 110 and you're sitting on the tarmac for a while. Curious if it was a mechanical fix or just a workaround you had to live with.