You all have seen those red sleeves that snug over the pitot tube. I never thought a bug or piece of grit would want to call that tube home. Au contraire!
After 20 years a mud dauber wasp filed homestead papers on 89P’s pitot tube. The Comanche had been sitting outside for 6 weeks. The way the morning light was in my eyes during pre-flight, I never saw the muddy cap over the orifice. After pushing the throttle forward for take off, noting a lack of airspeed indication, I still rotated. The plane flies great. Just another good reason to know your power settings. Next time, when the plane sits out on the ramp the sleeve goes on.
Marin County 99s