PA28 pilot reported departing with the tow bar attached to the nose landing gear.

Attributes
ACN	1494166
Time
Date	201710
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 18000 Flight Crew Type 225
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Narrative:

I completed a walk around with tow bar still attached since it was needed to keep repositioning the aircraft to loosen taught chain tie downs. Once walk around completed and all tie downs were removed; I asked my wife to remove the tow bar; stow it in our cargo hold and join me in the cockpit as I was going in to get our cockpit ready for departure. Upon initial turn out from airport; I realized something did not seem right with the bottom forward of our aircraft. I asked my wife if she removed and stowed the tow bar and then realized that she did not. I returned to [departure airport]; did a low approach and asked tower to inform if we still had a tow bar attached to nose gear. It was confirmed that it was still attached. (The tow bar in use has a mechanical locking mechanism and as result remained attached and did not depart the aircraft.) we then landed safely and taxied shortest distance to an area where we could shut down. Upon inspection; we discovered that we incurred propeller damage. This has been a humbling experience and one that has taught me to ensure I pay unrelenting attention to detail.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot reported departing with the tow bar attached to the nose landing gear.

Narrative: I completed a walk around with tow bar still attached since it was needed to keep repositioning the aircraft to loosen taught chain tie downs. Once walk around completed and all tie downs were removed; I asked my wife to remove the tow bar; stow it in our cargo hold and join me in the cockpit as I was going in to get our cockpit ready for departure. Upon initial turn out from airport; I realized something did not seem right with the bottom forward of our aircraft. I asked my wife if she removed and stowed the tow bar and then realized that she did not. I returned to [departure airport]; did a low approach and asked tower to inform if we still had a tow bar attached to nose gear. It was confirmed that it was still attached. (The tow bar in use has a mechanical locking mechanism and as result remained attached and did not depart the aircraft.) We then landed safely and taxied shortest distance to an area where we could shut down. Upon inspection; we discovered that we incurred propeller damage. This has been a humbling experience and one that has taught me to ensure I pay unrelenting attention to detail.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.