Service difficulty report · Pitot Head · Pilats PC1247E

Difficulty date
June 19, 2026
Submitted
June 23, 2026
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N755PM
Make and model
Pilats PC1247E
Aircraft serial
1239
Aircraft time
3,681 hours, 2,915 cycles
Part
Pitot Head
Condition
Obstructed
Location
Zone 100
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
C
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

THE RT SIDE PITOT SYSTEM BECOMES BLOCKED, WITH THE SYMPTOM BEING THE RIGHT PFD (AND STANDBY) AIRSPEED SLOWLY DROPS TO 0. MAINTENANCE HAS CHECKED THE PROBE HEAT REPEATEDLY AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT PC12S. MY THEORY IS THAT WATER ENTERS THE PITOT SYSTEM AND FREEZES BEFORE IT CAN DRAIN OUT, AS THE SYSTEM RECOVERS WHEN DESCENDING THROUGH THE FREEZING LEVEL.