PILOT ARCADE ALL MISSIONS

AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS / MISSION 03

Pitot-Static Error Trainer

See how pressure-system failures change the instruments—not the airplane.

System Online ASI · ALT · VSI Explore · Diagnosis
Pressure System Interactive
Pitot conditions
ASIPITOT − STATIC
Static conditions
ASI ALT VSI
PITOT CIRCUITFLOWING STATIC CIRCUITFLOWING
PITOT EFFECT

The ASI receives live ram pressure.

STATIC EFFECT

ASI, altimeter, and VSI receive live outside static pressure.

Tap a pressure-system condition, then change the flight path and watch the instruments respond.

Instrument Panel Integrated Pressure System Live
Step 4Select Your Diagnosis

Select the pitot and static conditions that match the instruments.

Pitot Conditions FLOWING
Static Conditions FLOWING
1 Pitot to ASI 2 Static to ASI · ALT · VSI
ASI
Airspeed -- Δ -- NORMAL
KTS
ALT
Altimeter -- Δ -- NORMAL
FEET
VSI
Vert Speed -- Δ -- NORMAL
FPM
Flight Conditions Choose a maneuver, then watch the instruments respond.
Flight StateLEVEL True Altitude5,000 FT
+1,000 −1,000

Ready for the next maneuver.

Altitude ManeuverTRUE 0 FPM
AirspeedTRUE 100 KT
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What's happening
Pitot: Normal operation
Static: Normal operation
Pitot-static system reference
Pitot blocked, drain hole clear
Ram air can't reach the line, and trapped pressure vents through the still-open drain. The ASI reads toward zero and stops responding to real speed changes. Altimeter and VSI are unaffected — the static system is independent.
Pitot blocked, drain hole also blocked
Pressure is sealed in the line at whatever it was when the blockage occurred. While the static source remains unobstructed, climbing makes the ASI increase like an altimeter and descending has the opposite effect. If the static side is also trapped, both ASI pressure inputs are fixed and the ASI freezes instead.
Static port blocked
The altimeter freezes at the altitude when the block occurred. The VSI decays to zero and stays there. The ASI, still fed by a live pitot but a frozen static reference, over-reads below the blockage altitude and under-reads above it.
Alternate static source in use
Cabin/alternate static pressure typically reads slightly lower than true outside static, so the altimeter and ASI read a bit high, and the VSI shows a momentary climb blip at the moment of switchover.