Pilot of an atx piper PA31 failed to maintain 2-WAY communication with the tower prior to takeoff du...

Attributes
ACN	360741
Time
Date	199702
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : frg
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	360741
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	observation : passenger observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Communications were disrupted while taxiing for takeoff when the nosewheel torque link separated. The event occurred when a far part 135 departure was required 'as soon as possible.' the PA31 was pulled from the hangar by 2 company personnel. The torque link was disconnected to make turning the aircraft easier. The tug operator pulled the aircraft to the ramp then left to do other duties. He left the tug connected and did not reconnect the torque link. The other company personnel removed the tug. The second operator was new to the company. The taxi went fine until the nosewheel began to shudder. At this point the communication radio was set to tower frequency and we were about to key the microphone when the shudder occurred. Suspecting a flat tire, I sent the copilot to investigate. He informed me the problem was the torque link and reconnected it. During this period ATC communications were disrupted. The chain of events leading to this situation began with the obvious rush that can cause things to take longer. A cockpit left disorganized by the pilot that had previously flown the aircraft, causing me to spend time inside which should have been spent outside. The pressure to complete the mission overrode good judgement and proper procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN ATX PIPER PA31 FAILED TO MAINTAIN 2-WAY COM WITH THE TWR PRIOR TO TKOF DUE TO STOPPING TO RECONNECT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING TORQUE LINKAGE. IT WAS NOT RECONNECTED AFTER DISCONNECT FOR TUG TOW OUT OF HANGAR.

Narrative: COMS WERE DISRUPTED WHILE TAXIING FOR TKOF WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TORQUE LINK SEPARATED. THE EVENT OCCURRED WHEN A FAR PART 135 DEP WAS REQUIRED 'ASAP.' THE PA31 WAS PULLED FROM THE HANGAR BY 2 COMPANY PERSONNEL. THE TORQUE LINK WAS DISCONNECTED TO MAKE TURNING THE ACFT EASIER. THE TUG OPERATOR PULLED THE ACFT TO THE RAMP THEN LEFT TO DO OTHER DUTIES. HE LEFT THE TUG CONNECTED AND DID NOT RECONNECT THE TORQUE LINK. THE OTHER COMPANY PERSONNEL REMOVED THE TUG. THE SECOND OPERATOR WAS NEW TO THE COMPANY. THE TAXI WENT FINE UNTIL THE NOSEWHEEL BEGAN TO SHUDDER. AT THIS POINT THE COM RADIO WAS SET TO TWR FREQ AND WE WERE ABOUT TO KEY THE MIKE WHEN THE SHUDDER OCCURRED. SUSPECTING A FLAT TIRE, I SENT THE COPLT TO INVESTIGATE. HE INFORMED ME THE PROB WAS THE TORQUE LINK AND RECONNECTED IT. DURING THIS PERIOD ATC COMS WERE DISRUPTED. THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LEADING TO THIS SIT BEGAN WITH THE OBVIOUS RUSH THAT CAN CAUSE THINGS TO TAKE LONGER. A COCKPIT LEFT DISORGANIZED BY THE PLT THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE ACFT, CAUSING ME TO SPEND TIME INSIDE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT OUTSIDE. THE PRESSURE TO COMPLETE THE MISSION OVERRODE GOOD JUDGEMENT AND PROPER PROC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Pilot of an atx piper PA31 failed to maintain 2-WAY communication with the tower prior to takeoff due to stopping to reconnect the nosewheel steering torque linkage. It was not reconnected after disconnect for tug tow out of hangar.