Noting a noise and vibration after takeoff; a DA20 instructor pilot declared an emergency and return...

Attributes
ACN	1087559
Time
Date	201305
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	DA20 Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Parked Takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155 Flight Crew Total 810 Flight Crew Type 205
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Student and instructor took off on a training flight in the traffic pattern. During the preflight; the student had hung the chocks on the boarding step of the pilot's side of the aircraft. Neither student nor instructor noticed that the chocks were hanging on the step when they boarded the aircraft. On initial climb; instructor noted that there was a distinct knocking on the fuselage. CFI queried ATC to look at the aircraft and check if something was hanging but ATC reported all looked ok. When power was reduced on downwind; a moderate to severe vibration developed on the aircraft. CFI took control; declared an emergency and landed the aircraft. Post flight inspection revealed the chocks were hanging on the step and had been banging against the aircraft; causing the vibration. No damage occurred to the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Noting a noise and vibration after takeoff; a DA20 instructor pilot declared an emergency and returned to base. Student pilot had left chocks hanging on boarding step.

Narrative: Student and instructor took off on a training flight in the traffic pattern. During the preflight; the student had hung the chocks on the boarding step of the pilot's side of the aircraft. Neither student nor instructor noticed that the chocks were hanging on the step when they boarded the aircraft. On initial climb; instructor noted that there was a distinct knocking on the fuselage. CFI queried ATC to look at the aircraft and check if something was hanging but ATC reported all looked ok. When power was reduced on downwind; a moderate to severe vibration developed on the aircraft. CFI took control; declared an emergency and landed the aircraft. Post flight inspection revealed the chocks were hanging on the step and had been banging against the aircraft; causing the vibration. No damage occurred to the aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.