PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19; Flight Crew Total 2385; Flight Crew Type 430
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
Air Traffic Control cleared me to descend from 8;000 to 6;000. It did not appear that my aircraft was descending based on the altimeter and vertical speed indicator. I checked that the pitot heat was on and it was. I then turned the alternate static source to open and noticed that the altimeter quickly corrected to 5;500 feet and descending. I immediately began correcting altitude to 6;000 feet and notified ATC. I have learned that in the future I will suspect an instrument failure if it does not immediately detect a control input. ATC was advised of my temporary pitot static problem and worked with me until the problem was resolved.
PA-32 pilot reported noticing his instruments were not responding as expected; and found that selecting an alternate static source solved the problem.