Can instruments be fixed via a swift punch?
If the static port gets blocked in an aircraft with no alternate static port, you can break the glass of the VSI (Vertical Speed Indicator) to allow air from inside the cockpit in the static system. By doing this you will sacrifice the VSI in favour of the altimeter and airspeed indicator

Due to venturi effects, air inside the cockpit has usually a slightly lower pressure than the pressure measured by the static port outside your aircraft.

This causes your altimeter to indicate a higher altitude and the airspeed indicator will also indicate a greater speed. The VSI is useless after you break it. 

Needless to say this does not apply to pressurized cabins nor to glass cockpits...



This works because the inside of the VSI contains a diaphragm in a pressure chamber. The diaphragm is connected to the static system through an unrestricted tube. The chamber is connected to the static system through a  restricted (calibrated) leak. If the static pressure changes, the pressure in the diaphragm  changes instantly, while the chamber pressure lags slightly behind. This causes the membrane to expand / retract which drives the needle on the instrument. 

When the glass is broken, the chamber will be at the same pressure as the cockpit. Through the calibrated leak, the static system will be levelled with the cockpit pressure, but of course with a delay as well. The VSI will now work in opposite direction (if you didn't destroy the needle). 



The inner workings of an IVSI

Some VSI apparently have the calibrated leak into the cockpit already. For such VSI's smashing the glass does not work. Here the diaphragm should be destroyed as well.