Missed Pitot Heat Can be Dangerous

[pelmet]

C-FVNF, a Beech 200 operated by Vanguard Air Care Ltd, was conducting flight VN06 from
Berens River (CYBV), MB to Winnipeg/James Armstrong Richardson Intl (CYWG), MB. During the
climb in winter weather conditions, the flight crew observed incorrect airspeed indications. The
crew declared an emergency, and landed in CYWG without further incident. ARFF was responded
and escorted the aircraft to the ramp. A post-flight tactile inspection indicated that the pitot tube
was not hot.
The operator’s maintenance subsequently checked the pitot heat and no faults were found in the
system. The aircraft was returned to service.

Of course, the simple answer is....do the checklist properly. But eventually someone somewhere is going to miss it. I do remember that I used to do an extra check for it on one aircraft but have to admit, I haven't been doing it for a long time. Maybe time to start again. In the accident below, it led to the deaths of 71 people....

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... ta-459481/

[Donald]

Some 737's have automatic pitot heat now.

[oldtimer]

Firstly this appears to be a Beech 200 Super King Air not a B737.
Secondly, what ever happened to the Abnormal/Emergency checklist??
I have personally either forgot the pitot heat (OOPS) or had the switch/circuit breaker pop and I should think this is not something that should be taken lightly but to declare and emergency???? There must be more to this story than what is reported because every time I forgot/had a failure, flipping on the pitot switches restored the airspeed indication. Besides the King Air has two separate systems with two separate airspeed indicators. If the crew could not find the circuit breakers, they need to spend more time in training because both pilot heat switches are switch/circuit breakers. At least the crew had the presence of mind to land the airplane safely.

[Eric Janson]

Part of the problem may be that Pitot Heat is used on some flights but not on others.

If you use it on all flights it becomes part of your normal routine and you are less likely to forget it imho.

On my Airbus Pitot/Probe/window heat is fully automatic. The only switch is an over-ride allowing everything to be turned on prior to engine start if conditions warrant.

[goingnowherefast]

On a King Air, wouldn't pitot heat be one of those things that gets turned on every flight? It sure was when I flew King Airs.

[rigpiggy]

Deice...... hot 6/+ windows lips etc....

[iflyforpie]

Normally on the King Air it’s a hot 5 item and a pre takeoff checklist item.

[pelmet]

Deice...... hot 6/+ windows lips etc....

Normally on the King Air it’s a hot 5 item and a pre takeoff checklist item.

Either I have forgotten or never knew what this term means from my brief King Air experience. What does HOT 5 or HOT 6 mean?

P. S. My favourite cold weather item was the electric heat that we had. Normally not used but came in handy once when we had a bleed air/pressurization issue and had to fly unpressurized for a long time on a really cold day.

[iflyforpie]

The items you turn on regardless of conditions. L/R pitot heat, L/R fuel vent, and stall vane on some King Airs... other protection systems on different aircraft that usually don’t have a performance consideration or life limit.