PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 5000; Flight Crew Type 600
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Procedure
I flew in to have my pitot-static system certified. [Later in the day] it was signed off and logbook entry was made by inspector. As I took off; the airspeed came up as normal; but as I started to climb out the airspeed started to decrease; YIPES!!!! I raised the gear to reduce drag; but the airspeed continued to decrease and indicated that I [was] approaching stall speed. But the nose attitude was correct; and controls were not mushy; and the stall warning light was off; so I deduced something was wrong with Airspeed Indicator (AS). The VSI and Altimeter seemed to be sensing and displaying correct information. I continued to climb out to 10;500 FT; and verified the Altimeter against PA read-out on the GTX 330 and against the GPS altitude on the Garmin GPS. Airspeed wound down to zero; then continued winding backwards to 240; 220; etc; eventually stabilized around 150 MPH (but needle was reversed (went counter-clockwise to get there). This process reversed when descending.After shut down at my hangar airspeed was at 180 MPH. Altimeter was spot-on; and VSI was reading zero. I know that the mechanic and his co-worker were having some problems with the pitot-static tests; but they didn't tell me what the problem was. I assumed that they had corrected whatever it was that was causing the problem before they re-certified it and had me fly off. I had never had a problem with pitot-static system or any of the pitot static instruments at any time before during my 4 years of flying this aircraft. I would not have taken off had I known a problem existed. Once I was in the air; and realized that the airspeed was malfunctioning; and that I could fly the airplane by proper attitude and power adjustments; I was too nervous to try to land back [where the work was completed] due to the high density altitude (about 8;000 FT) and whether the visual clues (ground speed) would confuse me [while] trying to land. My recollection is that with a blocked pitot tube; the air speeds should read higher when climbing; not lower.
P28R pilot reported erroneous airspeed indications after takeoff. Since he had just had the pitot static system worked on he suspected that was the problem and continued to destination in VMC using pitch and power techniques.