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An experienced pilot was distracted by conversation with a passenger and neglected to remove the tow bar during pre-flight. This was discovered when attempting to reposition into the hangar after the flight. The tow bar was found off the runway with no damage to the aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1112916 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201309 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | SGF.Airport |
| State Reference | MO |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cheetah Tiger Traveler AA5 Series |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Aircraft Furnishing |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 20500 Flight Crew Type 27 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
During pre-flight was distracted by discussion with passenger of various aviation practices and failed to remove the aircraft tow bar. Taxied to runway and departed with no unusual indications. Completed 1.4 hour flight with no apparent problems with aircraft. When ready to push aircraft into the hangar was unable to locate tow bar. Realized the only remaining possibility was that I had taxied with it attached. I called the control tower and recommended they sweep the affected taxiways and runway. Airport operations found the tow bar approximately 1;800 ft from the departure end of the runway. Tow bar was scraped up and the retention spring was bent and separated from the bar but the bar was not bent or otherwise damaged. There was no apparent damage to the aircraft fuselage; propeller; landing gear; wheel fairings; tires or antennas. Not even a scrape in the paint! Maintenance inspection is still pending.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An experienced pilot was distracted by conversation with a passenger and neglected to remove the tow bar during pre-flight. This was discovered when attempting to reposition into the hangar after the flight. The tow bar was found off the runway with no damage to the aircraft.
Narrative: During pre-flight was distracted by discussion with passenger of various aviation practices and failed to remove the aircraft tow bar. Taxied to runway and departed with no unusual indications. Completed 1.4 hour flight with no apparent problems with aircraft. When ready to push aircraft into the hangar was unable to locate tow bar. Realized the only remaining possibility was that I had taxied with it attached. I called the Control Tower and recommended they sweep the affected taxiways and runway. Airport operations found the tow bar approximately 1;800 FT from the departure end of the runway. Tow bar was scraped up and the retention spring was bent and separated from the bar but the bar was not bent or otherwise damaged. There was no apparent damage to the aircraft fuselage; propeller; landing gear; wheel fairings; tires or antennas. Not even a scrape in the paint! Maintenance inspection is still pending.
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.