Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 3200; Flight Crew Type 2800
Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After takeoff roll on Runway XXL at ZZZ with airspeed indication slightly higher than 10 KIAS (airspeed alive) and engine RPM at approximately 2;500 RPM; I noticed the airspeed indicator was not indicating any further increase in airspeed. By this time; the airplane was approximately 1;000 feet from departure end of Runway XXL. So; I decided against an aborted takeoff based my concern for the possibility of running off the departure end and having a catastrophic accident. So; I continued to rotate and shallow climb to a traffic pattern altitude of 1;000 feet AGL and asked ATC for an immediate turn to crosswind at approximately 700 feet AGL for landing on Runway XXL ZZZ. Engine RPM indication at an altitude of 1;000 feet remained at 2;300 RPM with throttle pushed less than half way in. Airplane handling felt normal like normal steady cruise in the traffic pattern and airplane control remained stable with no indication of altitude loss or any aural stall indication. I then reduced engine power to 1;700 RPM once abeam runway XXL threshold on left downwind and turned left base and eventually to final leg and landed the airplane on Runway XXL. Upon touchdown; I applied maximum braking and full elevator up control pressure and brought the airplane to a stop prior taxiway X1. I then safely taxied the airplane back to the southeast ramp and reported the issue to dispatch control.
Flight Instructor reported unreliable airspeed indications at take off and elected to perform an air turn back and precautionary landing.