PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-744
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 744
NOVEMBER 2014
11
PS 744
NOV 14
P
ilots and co-pilots, aircraft pitot tubes are sensors used to measure aircraft speed.
Having clean and dry pitot tubes ensures correct airspeed readings. That’s why you need to
keep covers on the tubes when the aircraft is not flying. Covers keep out dirt and moisture.
There’s one big problem, though. After flying, some folks forget to turn off the pitot
tube heater. No big deal if you leave off the covers, but if you place covers on searing hot
pitot tubes, they will melt and stick to the tube. And if you touch a hot tube, you’ll leave
skin behind, too!
Ouch!
Removing a melted cover is no joke. In some cases, tubes have to be replaced because
they cannot be cleaned.
So once you shut down your aircraft, take a second look to make sure you’ve turned off
everything in the cockpit before calling it quits. Then install the pitot tube covers.
To clean and maintain your pitot static system, check out Chapter 4 of TM 1-1500-204-
23-4. You should also follow the maintenance steps in each specific aircraft TM.
meAnwhile, inside the hAngAr…
All Aircraft…
we’re
done here.
Let’s go!
Yeah, it’s
been a
l0-o-onG
day!
hey, guys!
Aren’t you
forgEttiNG
my Pitot tube
covers?
oh, man!
I’d
better clean
that up!
HOLd iT!
you’re goNna
leaVE SomE
Skin
Behind if
you touch that
pitot tube!
did you forget
To turn OfF the
Heater AgaiN?
pilots and
co-piLOTs, you
aLl nEed to
TAke
cAre
of
Pitot
Tubes!
10
PS 74 4
NOV 14
R
ead
about pitot tube care,
filing PQDRs, and AGSE
nitrogen generation. There’s
also maintenance that aids BCT
readiness. Check out stripped
screw removal, tips to improve
readiness and how you can
ensure repair parts will be
ready when you need
them.
aviation
there’s
maintenance…
and then there’s
bct readiness!
744 10-11.indd
1-2
10/6/14
10:43 AM
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