PA28 pilot takes off with propeller lock still installed.

Attributes
ACN	563801
Time
Date	200210
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bed.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl single value : 75
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bed.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 120 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	563801
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Upon subsequent investigation it appeared I did not take off the propeller lock on preflight. I did a thorough preflight walkaround and inspection twice and missed the propeller lock. Started engine (normal), did run-up (normal), and was cleared for takeoff. Rotated at around 50-100 ft, noticed the propeller lock and requested to land and was cleared to land on intersecting runway by tower. Landing was normal and flight operations were normal. Proceeded to taxiway and requested authority/authorized to check aircraft. Upon termination of engine operation, the propeller lock came off and left little damage to the propeller. Requested taxi clearance back to ramp and commenced normal taxi to the ramp. In hindsight, my normal routine of preflight was altered causing the missed propeller lock. Contributing to this is that the other aircraft I traditionally fly more often do not have propeller locks. Usually I fly this aircraft and it does not have a propeller lock because it is hangared. In retrospect, I have learned a lot about myself and how aviation is dynamically different in every situation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the propeller lock was similar to a bicycle lock in that it was a cable with the ends having a key lock attached. It was hard to believe it was not noticed on preflight and that he did not notice it until after takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT TAKES OFF WITH PROP LOCK STILL INSTALLED.

Narrative: UPON SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION IT APPEARED I DID NOT TAKE OFF THE PROP LOCK ON PREFLT. I DID A THOROUGH PREFLT WALKAROUND AND INSPECTION TWICE AND MISSED THE PROP LOCK. STARTED ENG (NORMAL), DID RUN-UP (NORMAL), AND WAS CLRED FOR TKOF. ROTATED AT AROUND 50-100 FT, NOTICED THE PROP LOCK AND REQUESTED TO LAND AND WAS CLRED TO LAND ON INTERSECTING RWY BY TWR. LNDG WAS NORMAL AND FLT OPS WERE NORMAL. PROCEEDED TO TXWY AND REQUESTED AUTH TO CHK ACFT. UPON TERMINATION OF ENG OP, THE PROP LOCK CAME OFF AND LEFT LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE PROP. REQUESTED TAXI CLRNC BACK TO RAMP AND COMMENCED NORMAL TAXI TO THE RAMP. IN HINDSIGHT, MY NORMAL ROUTINE OF PREFLT WAS ALTERED CAUSING THE MISSED PROP LOCK. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS IS THAT THE OTHER ACFT I TRADITIONALLY FLY MORE OFTEN DO NOT HAVE PROP LOCKS. USUALLY I FLY THIS ACFT AND IT DOES NOT HAVE A PROP LOCK BECAUSE IT IS HANGARED. IN RETROSPECT, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF AND HOW AVIATION IS DYNAMICALLY DIFFERENT IN EVERY SIT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE PROP LOCK WAS SIMILAR TO A BICYCLE LOCK IN THAT IT WAS A CABLE WITH THE ENDS HAVING A KEY LOCK ATTACHED. IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE IT WAS NOT NOTICED ON PREFLT AND THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL AFTER TKOF.

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.